Rice bank coming to Wuchuan farmers

You're probably no stranger to banks, as they're an essential part of modern living. But can you imagine a bank that actually allows you to deposit rice instead of cash? Believe it or not, this is what's happening in Wuchuan, a county-level city in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province.

Local  farmers are able to store their rice in the bank's homoiothermic warehouses and withdraw it when needed. Or they can sell their rice directly to the bank in exchange for money or different varieties of rice. Strangest of all, farmers can even bring their rice to the bank for processing and refinement.

On offer will be a one-package service that include storing, processing and selling. The bank's ultimate goal is to help local farmers by offering them a steady, low-risk source of income under the Enterprise-Cooperative-Farmer Partnership.

Lin Jiaru shows the reporter around the bank's modern refined rice processing production lines. [Photo by Li Zhong/Zhanjiang Daily]

The bank's founder, Lin Jiaru, was born in Zhanjiang in the 1980s. She became a white-collar worker after completing a degree in Guangzhou. In 2014, her family's agricultural company ran into difficulties and so she stepped in to help, familiarizing herself with the agricultural industry in the process.

After more than three years of backbreaking efforts, she managed to turn the company into a leading enterprise integrating production, storage, sales, and research & development. Covering 6,200 mu (413 hectares), the company produces 4,500 tons of rice and 6,800 tons of vegetables annually, with an output value of over  22 million yuan ($3.5 million).

"Recently, I took part in the two sessions of Zhanjiang. The government work report outlined the rural rejuvenation strategy to develop modern agriculture, increase farmer's living standards, and create a livable  environment. This encouraged us," said Lin.

According to Lin, they will invest 15 million yuan in the construction of modern refined rice processing production lines and homoiothermic warehouses capable of processing 50 tons and storing 3,360 tons of rice respectively.