Last year a devastating drought caused a significant reduction in agricultural production -- especially in corn production -- in north eastern China's Heilongjiang province.

For farmers who had, for long, been growing the crop for a living, it was a terrible blow. However, thanks to a change in the structure of their farming methods, they can now look forward to more prosperous times.

For farmers in this village, rows of withered corn stalks may bring back some bitter memories of last autumn.

Never wanting to experience the hardship again, Ma Yanping said it was time to try something new.

The millet is the material used for making the broom, which is also the crop the village has been growing this year.

Local farmers also get a near 5,000-yuan-per-acre bonus from the village's cooperative for cultivating the crop.

Nearly 3,000 acres of millet have been sown in the village.

"As there was great pressure sowing corn, we are now growing this to change the agricultural structure. Planting the crop can better suit the landscape here, and it also adds jobs," said Lyu Lanshuang, Director-General, Mingshui County Millet Planting Cooperative.

And for those growing food crops in the village: although it's still spring, their produce has been sold out in advance thanks to the development of agricultural e-commerce, and a real-time monitoring system.

"Customers can see the crop they ordered, for example the beans, how well they are growing, what the weather is like here, and who's cultivating the plant," said Qiao Weiqi, Liason.

"And all these projects are guaranteed by the government and e-commerce companies like Alibaba. When we receive orders, we go to farmers, and they can grow the crop. "

Many farmers say they are already benefitting by this reform in the production process.

Through these changes, there are anticipating an real spring in their livelihoods.