Statistics show over 400 entrepreneurs have become village heads in the elections of grassroots officials at the end of last year, taking up a quarter of the total in the city.

These farmers-turned-businessmen, always innovative, pioneering and with a rags-to-riches story, have quickly proved to be as successful in their new posts.

By expanding their businesses -- setting up more production bases and opening up more workshops, they have offered more job opportunities to farmers.

Proceeding from a shrewd businessman's standpoint, some officials have taken advantage of the plentiful land resources in rural areas to establish farm produce processing plants, and buildup comprehensive distribution channels to boost the local economy and increase farmers' incomes.

As the few better off people among the local farmers, these newly elected officials never hesitate to take money from their own pockets to finance infrastructure construction or any other improvement projects.

Located in southern Zhejiang, Leqing has been leading the local economy in recent years with its booming private economy.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2003)