Accurate information about supply and demand is helpful for farmers to find a good market. However, most farmers in Hainan Province, south China, work and sell farm produce individually. It's difficult for them to get accurate information about the market and sell high-quality products at reasonable prices without efficient promotion.

To bridge farmers and buyers, the Jiazi Township Government in Haikou, capital city of the province, hires rural salespersons to collect information about local farm produce and promote them online and to local supermarkets.

Although some celebrities and local officials in China have participated in live-streaming promotions for farm produce, problems persist. For instance, the hosts do not know all the features of products, and the quality of products and after-sales services cannot be ensured. Therefore, they need to spend more time studying agricultural products and select quality ones. In this regard, rural salespersons know much more about farmers and their produce.

This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in People's Daily on July 27

(Print Edition Title: New Impetus Rural Salesperson)