In the fields of Quzhou, lush sugarcane fields stretch as far as the eye can see, their red-skinned sugarcane plump and bright, their green-skinned sugarcane standing tall and verdant, each segment carrying the farmers' "sweet hopes." In recent years, Zhejiang Chouzhou Commercial Bank (hereinafter referred to as "Chouzhou Bank") has focused on regional specialty agriculture such as sugarcane cultivation, using precise, targeted financial services to solve farmers' operational problems, adding financial momentum to this "sweet business" and boosting their confidence in increasing income.
Returning home to fulfill the "sugarcane" dream
Xu Yulin, 51, is a native of Changshan County, Quzhou City. He worked in a factory in Hangzhou for many years. In 2014, driven by his love for his hometown, he resolutely returned to his village to engage in sugarcane cultivation despite his family's objections. Starting from a small-scale operation on a few acres of land, Xu Yulin persisted in pursuing a professional cultivation path, gradually developing into a large-scale sugarcane grower. By the end of November 2025, his planting area had expanded to 120 acres.
To scale up operations, "technological power" is a crucial tool for improving planting quality. Xu Yulin calculated the costs clearly: annual rent is 1200 yuan per mu, trellis construction costs about 1000 yuan, and after deducting all costs, his net profit per mu can reach 4000-5000 yuan. Behind the expansion of the industry, the pressure on cash flow also increases. The timely intervention of the Quzhou branch of Chouzhou Bank injected key momentum into his business. Addressing Xu Yulin's funding needs for expanding planting scale, introducing technology, and paying rent and wages, the Changshan branch of the bank in Quzhou granted him a total of 280,000 yuan in credit, providing a more solid guarantee for the production input of his sugarcane fields.
Today, modern planting techniques are evident everywhere in Xu Yulin's sugarcane fields. Full-film constant-temperature mulching technology retains heat and moisture, suppresses weeds, resulting in better sugarcane quality and earlier harvesting; drones apply precise fertilization 7 to 8 times a year, far exceeding the efficiency and uniformity of manual labor; and intelligent drip irrigation systems ensure that every sugarcane stalk receives precise irrigation. The integrated application of these technologies has led to a stable improvement in sugarcane quality and a significant increase in its resilience to risks. Xu Yulin has also employed middle-aged villagers who are unable to work outside the village, allowing those remaining in the village to achieve stable incomes near their homes. Precise cost accounting and industrial development have unleashed multiple benefits from this "sweet business." According to Xu Yulin, he expects his planting area to reach 260 mu (approximately 44 acres) by the end of 2026.
Transformation to pan for gold in sugarcane
On another field ridge in Quzhou, 59-year-old agricultural "all-rounder" Yu Hengsheng was also busy tending his sugarcane field. Previously, his vegetable business was affected by market fluctuations, resulting in unstable profits. After recognizing the promising prospects of sugarcane cultivation, he decisively shifted his focus, increasing his contracted land area to over 120 mu (approximately 8 hectares) and plunging headlong into the "sweet business." His farm employs 15 to 20 permanent workers year-round, requiring additional staff during peak seasons, with annual labor costs alone reaching 400,000 yuan. The financial pressure of purchasing agricultural supplies and making concentrated wage payments during the planting season always poses a challenge for him.
After learning of his difficulties, the Quzhou branch of Chouzhou Bank proactively visited him and efficiently completed the offline loan approval and disbursement, becoming a reliable help in solving his urgent problem. "This money was truly a godsend!" Yu Hengsheng exclaimed sincerely.
After fourteen months of exploration and development, Yu Hengsheng's farm can now produce 2,200 sugarcane stalks per mu (approximately 0.16 acres). Thanks to its excellent quality, the sugarcane is sold to many provinces, including Jiangsu, Shanghai, Shandong, and Anhui. The stable sales channels allow the farm to generate an annual profit of over 300,000 yuan.
From casual laborers to large-scale growers, from vegetable cultivation to sugarcane breeding, two farmers from Quzhou are forging a new path to prosperity on their familiar land. Based locally, Chouzhou Bank also adheres to its original mission of serving the countryside, providing strong financial support to new agricultural business entities, allowing the beautiful picture of rural life to gradually unfold across western Zhejiang, growing ever warmer with each passing year.
