Spring ploughing is just around the corner in China, and the demand for farming goods is growing. Over the past few years, substandard seeds, fertilizer and pesticide have been a huge headache for the country's farmers. But this year, the government has made a major effort to solve the problem.

Whenever the spring ploughing season approaches, Sichuan farmer Zhang Xuming gets busy stocking up a season's worth of agricultural materials for his rice paddies and orchards. But this year, he doesn't need to go very far to get them.

The Company of Agricultural Production Materials has just opened a chainstore right near his house. Whatever he wants can now be delivered directly to his doorstep free of charge.

As well as free delivery, free technical support is also available from the chain store owners, who are all certified farming experts.

Cheng Tianming, owner of Agro Materials Store, said, "If the farmers don't know how to use the fertilizers, we can explain the techniques to them.

Sometimes we do that in the fields, sometimes in the shop."

Bad seeds have long been a nightmare for this Henan farmer. But he says this year, he is not so worried. Now when he buys seeds from the local agricultural production company, he signs a contract with the company that guarantees quality and after-sale services.

With promises of a 10 percent increase in the supply of fertilizers for the first quarter compared to last year, the government is making sure farmers have ample supplies to start their spring ploughing.

Source: CCTV.com