In Jianggao, the poor Chinese farmer is a thing of the past.

Farmers go to the library and surf the Internet to see what opportunities the outside world can provide.

Tang Jiangqiang, director of Jianggao village, Guangdong, said, "We are trying to adapt modern concepts and methods of management. We want sustainable development for farmers."

But modernizing agriculture does not mean completely abandoning the land. Rapid urbanization in rural areas has cut into farmland. Jianggao faces the same problem.

Growing shallots used to be hardly worth the trouble for Jiang Zhilong. Profits were low and farmers had no idea where to sell their produce.

Jiang still grows shallots, but things have changed.

Jiang Zhilong, farmer from Jianggao village, Guangdong, said, "The village built a market to sell shallots. Before, we only knew about planting. Now we're learning how to sell farm produce."

This may not be your usual market, but it brings in the wholesale buyers.

Still traditional way of measurement, but farmers here say, with selling no longer a problem, they don't worry about bumper harvests any more.

And following on the success with chicken processing, farmers say an economic cooperative for shallots will come.

Tomorrow, our Across China series will bring you reports of Women's rights in rural areas.

Editor:Liu Fang