Nestled at the northern foot of the Yinshan Mountains, Mabuzi Village in Urad Front Banner, Bayannur City, Inner Mongolia, presents a striking scene of modern agriculture. Across its vast expanse of ten thousand mu, corn seedlings stand in neat formation, with drip irrigation lines threading through the rows, delivering precise water droplets directly to each plant's root system. Standing on the field ridge, Zhang Hui, the village's Party branch secretary and head of the village collective economic cooperative, carefully inspects the crop conditions.

This landscape represents a dramatic departure from the past, when the village typified the fragmented "one household, one plot" farming model that yielded minimal profits. Today, under the leadership of the village Party organization, Mabuzi has achieved a remarkable transformation from individual small-scale farming to unified village-wide cultivation, earning its reputation as a model village for rural revitalization in the region.

Consolidating Fragmented Land

The village's former land structure was characterized by tiny, scattered plots crisscrossed with earthen ridges, preventing large machinery from entering the fields and forcing farmers to rely entirely on manual labor. "Previously, a family could only farm about ten mu, with high costs for seeds and fertilizer. Watering meant staying up all night, and even in good years, we only earned enough for our hard work. In bad years, we couldn't even recover the cost of seeds," Zhang Hui recalled. As young people gradually left for urban areas, the village faced severe hollowing-out and an aging population, with some land even falling fallow and abandoned.

In 2013, at age 28, Zhang Hui gave up his urban career to return to his hometown. He took the lead in establishing the village collective economic cooperative, exploring a new path of large-scale, intensive cultivation. "We transferred land to the collective with a guaranteed minimum payment of 1,500 yuan per mu, ensuring stable income regardless of weather conditions. Those willing to work could also join the park workforce and earn additional wages." Initially, many villagers worried about the security of their harvests, but Zhang Hui patiently visited each household to address their concerns.

The earthen ridges were leveled, boundaries dissolved, and fragmented farmland was integrated into contiguous cultivation zones. Starting from an initial 10,000 mu, the initiative now covers the village's entire 67,000 mu. Through a "six unifications" model—standardized planting techniques, agricultural supply procurement, machinery services, technical guidance, branding, and sales—46 shareholder households now receive dividends, the village collective economy generates over 2 million yuan in revenue, every villager receives a 600 yuan dividend, and temporary employment alone has added more than 10 million yuan in income for surrounding farmers.

Bringing Technology to the Fields

Land consolidation was merely the first step. Located in the golden planting zone at 41 degrees north latitude, Mabuzi Village enjoys abundant sunlight and significant temperature differences between day and night. However, chronic groundwater over-extraction and soil salinization had long constrained the conversion of these resource advantages into productive outcomes.

Gao Zhongheng, the mayor of Dashetaizhen Town, explained that to address these challenges, Mabuzi Village established a "talent station" that brings together local experts, external specialists, and community sages. The village has partnered with South China Agricultural University and Inner Mongolia Agricultural University for on-site expert guidance, and introduced Yunbo Agricultural Technology Company to establish a comprehensive agricultural service station in the fields, integrating soil testing and fertilizer recommendations, integrated water-fertilizer management, and smart agriculture systems.

"The service station is equipped with intelligent liquid automatic fertilizer applicators. These devices precisely test soil nutrient content and moisture data, then accurately formulate liquid amino acid water-soluble fertilizers based on corn growth stages—providing nutrition while also improving saline-alkali soil conditions," Zhang Hui said. To address water supply conflicts, the park has installed remote intelligent drip irrigation systems and water metering equipment spanning more than 6 kilometers in total length, strictly controlling water usage at 308 cubic meters per mu of corn.

"Managers can now remotely control irrigation from their homes using their phones—watering is faster and more precise, and we no longer need to stay up all night like before," Zhang Hui added. Within the park, high-horsepower wheeled tractors can plow over a thousand mu in a single day. In the 200-mu variety testing zone, more than 30 high-density corn varieties imported from Xinjiang are thriving. With 5.5-centimeter spacing between seedlings, planting density reaches 7,500 plants per mu—nearly 2,000 more than traditional methods. Biodegradable plastic mulch spread between rows naturally decomposes into organic matter after harvest, eliminating residual film pollution.

"Using these high-tech methods is like hiring a doctor for the fields. Last year, I planted 100 mu on my own—the cost was higher than collective farming, yet the yield was lower," said villager Liu Shuai.

Sharing the Fruits of Success

Today, villagers in Mabuzi enjoy two stable sources of income—guaranteed land transfer payments and wages from park employment—allowing everyone to work without leaving home. "Working in the park, I earn 200 to 300 yuan a day. Young people who had left for cities are returning, and even elderly residents can earn pocket money working here. The village has come alive again," said park worker Zhou Wenxue.

Gao Zhongheng noted that the village's collective income structure has also evolved. "In the past, we relied mainly on reeds from Wuliangsuhai Lake, beachlands, and resource-based minerals—revenues that were unstable. Now, collective funds are invested in the demonstration park, generating diversified, stable, and sustainable income."

"Currently, the village collective pays medical insurance premiums for all 800-plus residents aged 65 and above, totaling over 300,000 yuan annually. When village children are admitted to key universities, the collective awards them a one-time 10,000 yuan bonus. For villagers with serious illnesses or disabilities, the collective coordinates with civil affairs policies to provide 5,000 yuan in subsidies," Zhang Hui said. "When the collective economy earns money, it should be spent on the villagers—that's our principle."