Residents flourishing away from floods(2)

Under the cooperation model, farmers can earn a minimum income of 12,000 yuan ($1,723) per hectare every year. In addition, the town shares 60 percent of the profits earned from their farmland, Liu Wanyin said, adding that some farmers can choose to work for Lugong Fengnong to earn extra money.

Liu Guangsheng manages 20 hectares of farmland for the company, which has provided him with drones that help him better irrigate and fertilize the land, as well as maintain pest control.

"I don't need to carry a sprayer on my back to spray pesticides on the wheat anymore," he said. "Farmwork is much easier and more efficient than before."

His wife runs a barbecue restaurant in their community. The couple have two children. "We cherish our current life. As long as we work hard, we can live well," he said.

About a five-minute drive from Lugong Fengnong is a watermelon growing base.

In a greenhouse, watermelons hang on vines. Three farmers collect the fruit to sell at markets.

"Instead of growing watermelons directly on the ground, this new growing technique can save land and increase yields," said Qian Bin, general manager of the Jinan Xinzheng Ecological Agriculture Cooperative.

Having grown up around the Yellow River, Qian knows the land well.

"The soil here contains a lot of sand, which is suitable for planting selenium-enriched watermelons," he said, adding the cooperative's fruit has earned a reputation at the markets.

"Many farmers have joined our cooperative to grow watermelons."

Liu Wanyin said the town is developing more agricultural projects to boost its collective economy and create a better living environment for villagers. "In Xingfuhe, we hope that our happy days will be longer than the Yellow River," he said.