Since the start of this year, given that many able-bodied young men seek jobs away from home, leaving the aged and some women of childbearing age at home, Yanzhuang village in Ruzhou, Henan, has set up a blackboard newspaper about agricultural science and technology, information about business opportunities, knowledge of health care and so on for those left in the village, to learn the science and technology of cropping, cultivation, agricultural progress and health care and bring them business opportunities in the future, according to Farmers Daily..

The agriculture office, social security office, civil administration, women's federation and family planning commission of Zhonglou Street in Ruzhou consider it important to popularize agricultural science and technology. They are offering village committees cropping guidelines, teaching plans, chalk and blackboards and send full-time staff to update the blackboard newspaper according to the seasons and the farmers’ requirements. Up until now, all of the villages tied in with the Zhonglou Street office have set up blackboard newspapers, which have been updated more than three times, have sent over 80 messages, and have been viewed by over 3,500 people. The blackboard newspaper is regarded as a good help for farmers to start their own business and become successful.