YINCHUAN, NINGXIA (XINHUA) - This spring, Liu Xiaoping has hired a "nanny" to tend his three hectares of black wheat. This new helper - an experienced agricultural manager with government backing - has taken over almost all of the farm work.

Liu, 50, is a farmer in Tazhai Village, in the Shapotou District of Zhongwei City in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. He has spent many years toiling in the fields.