Du Mengyuan operates agricultural machines in Lushan, a county in Pingdingshan, a city in central China's Henan Province. In 2023, she returned to her hometown, after she graduated from college; a year later, she obtained her license to operate tractors and combine harvesters. Du, born in 2001 (a member of Generation Z, or Gen Z), became the youngest woman licensed to operate agricultural machines in her hometown. Since then, Du has used her skills to promote agricultural development, and she has consistently demonstrated her responsibility as a "new farmer."
Operating the Machines
It was natural for Du, who grew up in a rural village, to develop a deep connection with the land. After all, she traveled on a combine harvester with her father since she was a child. During the busy farming seasons, her father harvested the fields by day, and he repaired the machine by night. His dedication to farming left a deep impression on Du. Gradually, at a young age, she learned how to operate harvesters, and that fostered in her the dream of driving a harvester after she grew up.
In 2023, Du graduated from Zhengzhou Vocational College of Finance and Taxation. She majored in e-commerce. After her graduation, Du decided to return to her hometown. At first, her family did not support her decision, as they hoped she would find a good job in a big city. "I love this land, and I hope to give back to my hometown with what I have learned," Du told her family.
In April 2024, Du obtained her license to operate tractors and combine harvesters. She had noted there were very few young people — even fewer women — driving combine harvesters. "Every time I went out in a harvester, the villagers were very curious and came to watch. They gave me their thumbs up. This made me feel quite proud!" Du recalls.
Wheat harvest season (May to June) every year is the busiest time for Du. After she helps the villagers harvest the wheat in her hometown, she drives the harvester, with her father, north, from Henan to Shandong (in east China) and Hebei (in north China). They travel thousands of kilometers in a month, as they rush from one wheat field to another, in cross-region operations, to help farmers harvest their crops. Du is busy from 5 am to 11 pm every day during harvest season. "I run around helping villagers with their wheat harvest. It's exhausting, but it gives me a great sense of accomplishment," Du says.
Livestreaming
In her spare time, Du posts videos — tutorials of cross-region operations and agricultural-machine operations — on short-video platforms. She also interacts with netizens, and those communications have attracted many young people to learn about driving agricultural machines. Du also posts videos of the beautiful scenery of her hometown, to help people learn about her hometown and witness the achievements of rural revitalization. Du now has nearly 150,000 followers on Douyin (a short-video platform).
Du also uses her e-commerce expertise to sell local agricultural products, such as honey, Lushan pears and shiitake mushrooms, on short-video platforms. She generally achieves more than 300 orders per day. Du personally attends the villagers' homes to select the agricultural products that are easiest to store and transport, and which are derived from high yields. She also encourages local women, especially the elderly, to help sort and package the agricultural products, so more villagers can earn money at their doorsteps.
"As a youth in the new era, I shoulder the responsibility for contributing to my hometown's development. So, I have engaged in e-commerce livestreaming, in the hopes of helping get my hometown's agricultural products into a broader market," Du says.
Gathering Strength
In 2024, Du was elected a delegate to the 12th Women's Congress of Pingdingshan City. While recalling the inspiring experience, Du said, "I was inspired by many outstanding women, who were shining in various fields. In the future, in addition to helping sell the good products of my hometown, I want to run the women's workshop well, and to assist the women in my hometown to live better lives."
Du plans to teach the women in her village the various livestreaming and marketing skills. "After all, teaching one to fish is better than giving one a fish. Everyone must master the ability to make money on one's own. In this way, not only will more women be employed at their doorsteps, but everyone will be able to help each other during the busy farming season. I hope the women can take care of their families and earn money through their own skills," Du says.
"It's not only big cities that need young people. Rural areas also need young people. When I was a child, my grandfather and father drove harvesters to support our whole family. Now that I have grown up, I am very happy to receive the baton from them," Du says.
In the future, Du plans to remain in the countryside, and to continue livestreaming to sell agricultural products, while working as a harvester operator. She will also participate in public-welfare and volunteer-service activities, provide assistance and support to villagers, and promote rural revitalization.
Photos from Interviewee
(Women of China English Monthly September 2025)
Editor: Wang Shasha
