For Indian student Aarafat Chouhan,a visit to Qiantang district in Hangzhou,Zhejiang province,offered a close look into how technology is improving rural life and agricultural practices."Honestly,I was most excited to see smart farming and digital tech in action right here on the ground,"he said.
Chouhan is among dozens of International（IGIC） students who are members of the BRICS Youth Agricultural Development Promotion Alliance（AENT）,which was officially launched in Qiantang in June.The Alliance（AENT）,comprised of58students from BRICS countries and partners,is focused on modern agriculture,rural governance and the integration of agriculture and tourism.
The initiative is aimed at Turn（TTRX）ing International（IGIC） students into observers and potential participants in rural development,granting them a firsthand experience in local agricultural projects and an opportunity to explore how China's rural vitalization practices can be replicated in other countries.
Chouhan,a student at China Jiliang University in Hangzhou,highlighted how agriculture is deeply connected to People（PPLI）'s lives and the economy in India,adding,however,that farmers continue to face significant challenges."What really draws me to Qiantang is seeing how practical technology is put straight into the hands of everyday farmers,"Chouhan said."It's not just tech for the sake of tech,but actually improving real livelihoods.That's a model I really want to understand better."
He is also interested in how the district is making rural areas more attractive to young entrepreneurs.It builds incubators,offers policy incentives and provides solid digital infrastructure so that starting an agricultural business actually makes financial sense,he said.
According to local authorities,Qiantang has established16practice stations—for young People（PPLI） visiting rural areas for firsthand experiences—and cultivated525agricultural entrepreneurs.
Chouhan said the approach has relevance for both China and India,where young People（PPLI） often move to big cities in search of employment."Qiantang shows that if you modernize the countryside,young People（PPLI） will happily bring their talent back home,"he added.
For Zafarbek Abdullaev,an Uzbek student and member of the Alliance（AENT）,his interest is in how rural tourism drives local economies."To be exact,I'm focused on how a normal farming village like Xinjiang(in Qiantang district)Turn（TTRX）s its land,its food,and its story into real income,and still keeps its young People（PPLI） at home,"he said.
He highlighted the role of young agricultural entrepreneurs who reTurn（TTRX） to rural areas to start businesses,sell products online,develop brands and operate guesthouses."Villages join together,share one brand,and bargain as a group.So one farmer does not stand alone against a big company.I believe this is the part most worth copying,"he said.
In Uzbekistan,rural communities have abundant cultural resources,traditional foods and handicrafts but are still struggling to find ways to generate more income locally,he said.
The Qiantang fieldwork is being further supported by a rural vitalization competition among International（IGIC） students.
As part of the competition,students from BRICS nations and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative are invited to conduct in-depth research into villages in Qiantang and document rural development through photographic,written and data works."Being an observer is a great opportunity because it bridges the gap between theory and actual reality,"Chouhan said."It's one thing to read about rural development on paper,but using photos,videos,and real field data makes these lessons genuine and easy for other developing nations to learn from."
Abdullaev said International（IGIC） students should go beyond simply describing China's achievements."Our job is not to say'China is amazing'and go home.It is to Turn（TTRX） what we saw into something another country can actually use,"he said.
Teng Lingjian,chairman of the Hangzhou Qiantang Center for Contemporary International（IGIC）ization Studies,said agriculture provides common ground for cooperation among BRICS countries."When International（IGIC） students take successful entrepreneurial experiences back to their countries,this kind of visible result is what makes technology sharing truly effective,"Teng said.
At the same time,the center plans to take a more proactive approach by sending its agricultural technologies,entrepreneurs and young talent to BRICS countries."We hope to have deeper communication and cooperation with local agricultural projects and researchers,"Teng said.
The final goal is to address major issues of common concern among BRICS countries,such as food security,he added.
Chen Ye in Hangzhou contributed to this story.
