A man of vision, integrity and generosity
Print Edition
AS the first director of Songjiang after the formation of the People’s Republic in 1949, Zhao Ren charted the course for development of agriculture as the staple industry.
He encouraged improvement in agricultural tools and machinery, and he introduced successful farming techniques from other provinces, which greatly increased harvests and eased the burdens of farm labor.
One of his first priorities was to harness rivers and watercourses for agricultural production. In 1958, the southern sections of the Tongbo and Jianshe rivers were dredged and waterways were connected to nearby fields. In 1959, main canals in the low-lying areas of Pubei and Xinwu were cleared and linked with the Huangpu River.
In the early 1960s, Songjiang’s water network was built under Zhao’s guidance, giving farmers access to irrigation. By the end of 1966, more than 37,333 hectares, or almost 99 percent, of the district’s farmland were under irrigation. Electric pumps provided drainage during the flood season.
In 1964, Songjiang achieved production of 402 kilograms of rice for every 667 square meters — a big accomplishment at the time.
As much as his achievements, Zhao’s integrity and generosity won him widespread admiration. He worked, ate and lived with farmers. During the 1959-61 famine, he gave his meat quota to others. In 1962, the municipal government granted him a housing subsidy, but he gave it to others.
One farmer recalled the night in a remote village, when Zhao arrived for an inspection and found the bed designated for him occupied by someone else. The director refused to disturb the sleeping man, instead curling up in a corner for the night.
During the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), Zhao was attacked by Red Guards, which left him traumatized. He died of heart disease in 1977.
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