His thumb-watermelon was launched on the market this summer, and it was a huge success, selling for 160 yuan (US$26) per kilogram.

The farm gets more than 35,000 visitors every year, generating a sales volume of 6 million yuan (US$985,200).

Gao established an online business platform Tian Tou Pi (literally “bulk from the fields”), which receives around 90 orders every day.

“This is an ideal business approach combining high-added value agricultural products and modern, high-tech support,” he says.

So far, 26 farms in Jinshan are using the sales platform and by year’s end, sales are estimated to reach 10 million yuan, a 50-percent increase over 2012.

The success of Gao’s farm inspired the district government, which encourages young entrepreneurs to start up their business in agriculture.

“Modern agriculture is badly in need of young people with skills and enthusiasm, but they are often short of money and lacking experience,” says Lu Caihua, deputy director of the local department of human resources and social security.

The district and Gao worked together to establish the Gaolaozhuang Association of farmers as an incubator for young, inexperienced growers. The association’s farm in Langxia Town provides everything: start-up funds, seeds, training, fertilizer, mulch, irrigation, greenhouses and plastic sheds. It’s fully equipped for modern agriculture.

Each entrepreneur can rent 1,000 to 2,000 square meters at first for trial.

The growing process is guided, monitored and inspected by Gao’s expert team to guarantee quality, he says.

The products are then sold on Gao’s online platform and he deducts the cost of inputs from the final earnings.

After deductions, each farmers has a profit of around 30,000 yuan per mu (1/15 hectare) a year, which is high in agriculture, he says.

New types of vegetables have high added value, Gao says.

He is confident of success.