From the State Sector to Grassroots NGO: An Idealist in Yunnan

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How did an organisation focused on insect ecology come to care about farmers’ livelihoods? And how did an organisation focused on farmers’ livelihoods end up composing ‘The Fly Song‘ for flies?

How did a man from Shanxi become a village ‘male women’s director’ (a humorous term for a man holding a traditionally female post) in Yunnan? Why is a top graduate in genetic engineering out in the fields urging farmers to grow crops without pesticides or chemical fertilisers?

How did these seemingly unrelated people and events magically intertwine?

In this episode, we welcome Zuo Zhi, Executive Director of the Yunnan Sili Centre for Ecological Alternative Technologies. Born in the mid-1980s and originally from Shanxi, he moved to rural Yunnan and, after graduating from university, left the state sector to join an NGO called ‘Sili’. There, out in the fields, he took on a role that is hard to sum up: teaching farmers to use fewer pesticides and cultivate heritage rice varieties, while trying to build a bridge between government officials, farming households, and agricultural technology.

You will hear some rather counterintuitive details: flies turn out to be the ultimate ‘matchmakers’ in mango orchards, and the first step to promoting ecological agriculture involves sharing a drink with the farmer. From the Rice Transplanting Festival in Dali to the yield assessment sites in the Hani rice terraces, Zuo Zhi takes us through the complex dynamics among agricultural supply stores, extension stations, and grassroots organisations, breaking down what exactly ‘climate-friendly rice’ entails – a method that maintains yields while reducing emissions.

In this episode, alongside Zuo Zhi, we trace how an idealist uses plain language to connect with the land and the people who work it. This is more than just a primer on climate-friendly rice; it is a true account of how small changes, made within real-world constraints, can build trust and help sustain rural communities.

Episode Guest

Zuo Zhi

Executive Director of the Yunnan Sili Centre for Ecological Alternative Technologies. His current work centres on research, extension services, and practical projects involving climate-friendly paddy management strategies and technology screening and integration, with the aim of advancing a practice network for climate-friendly agriculture.

 

 

 

Hosts

Tianle

Founding editor at Foodthink and convenor of the Beijing Organic Farmers’ Market.

 

 

 

 

 

Pei Dan

A writer who has found her footing again, focusing on the real people affected by climate change, ecological shifts, and societal transformation.

 

 

 

 

Timeline

00:38 A man from Shanxi becomes a village’s “male women’s director” in Yunnan

07:13 From state-sector security to grassroots NGO work: why make the leap?

12:20 In the village, trust comes first; technology is secondary

23:47 Sharing a drink and speaking plainly: informal methods for connecting with farmers

27:09 Reviving an heirloom variety, and a festival along with it

30:21 Government, supply shops, and NGOs: who really shapes how farmers grow crops?

38:50 Climate-friendly rice: more than just farming, it’s working in sync with the weather

44:18 When salespeople offer training, it’s expected; when they don’t, that’s what’s odd

49:15 Yunnan’s droughts are more than just a lack of rainfall

58:22 Yield assessments, control plots, and an elder’s wisdom: keeping technology grounded

68:46 If you’d also like to get a little closer to the land

In 2025, Foodthink visited Qielongzhongzhai alongside the Sili Centre just as the local harvest festival was underway. Hani women wade through traditional flooded rice paddies, harvesting and threshing by hand. Photograph: Pei Dan
Heirloom rice varieties grown in Qielongzhongzhai.
Rice grown around Yilong Lake. Extensive demonstration plots lie within the scenic Yilong Lake reserve. Photograph: Ruomiao
Zhao Hao, a member of staff at the Sili Centre, outlines the approach to climate-friendly rice in Wuhua District, Kunming. Photograph: Pei Dan
Beside the Sili trial plots on Wangong Mountain in Wuhua District, Kunming, recent heavy rains have washed down from the hills, converging into a swift current in the riverbed. Photograph: Pei Dan
Alternate wetting and drying requires less water in the paddies. Photograph: Pei Dan
Zuo Zhi in Qifeng Village, Dali, nine years ago. Image courtesy of Zuo Zhi.

Yunnan Sili Centre for Ecological Alternative Technologies (hereafter the Sili Centre), established in 2002, focuses on sustainable agricultural development. It undertakes community pesticide risk management, research and extension of ecological and climate-friendly application technologies, agricultural biodiversity conservation, and public science education. The Centre works to advance the synergistic enhancement of pollution reduction and carbon mitigation in agriculture, fostering socially and economically sustainable practices.

Further reading ▼

With drying conditions, how can rice still be grown?

People are leaving, water is dwindling: who is growing rice?

Human food security is surprisingly in the hands of insects

Understand rural fundamentals before discussing climate action

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Unless stated otherwise, images are provided by this episode’s guest.

Podcast music: Banong

Production: Xiaojing

Planning: Tianle, Pei Dan

Editing: Yuyang

Contact email: [email protected]

Published by Foodthink