Prior to the spring plough, farmers visit farmhouse-transformed bookstores in Yangzhong village of Luzhi township, Pingtan island county in Fujian province.

Most farmers are reading books on agricultural technology to better prepare for the upcoming spring plough season, said the Pingtan Radio and Television Station.

Pingtan began to build farm bookstores across townships under its jurisdiction in 2008 to benefit farmers. Five years later, there are 192 farm bookstores dotted across the townships.

"I work during the daytime and read books here," said Mr. Lin, a farmer from Yangzhong village. "This (bookstore) benefits us a lot, bringing the convenience of science to our work."

Since 2009, Lin has made a habit of visiting the bookstore when he is free. Thanks to the planting knowledge he learned in the bookstore, he has a monthly income of more than 2,000 yuan ($323) from peanuts grown on land measuring 10 square meters.

Besides the agricultural technology, the bookstores also contain books on culture, education, life, science, law and politics, providing an educational platform for children, especially those whose parents are migrant workers.

"The number of left-behind children keeps surging. The bookstores are open to the public, often attracting children," said Lin Mouqin, who works at the Luzhi township CPC committee. "This is a study platform for them, giving them access to more knowledge."

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Michael Thai