From his bed, he manages four greenhouses located 10 meters (33 feet) away through a program he designed and a computer display mounted above him on an adjustable arm.

"With this microcomputer and the software I created, along with a mobile application, I can track various farm metrics like temperature, humidity, nutrient solution concentration, and pH levels," Li shared with AFP.

"Using the cameras, I can check if the water pump is functioning or if the fans are operational."

Using the one finger he can move, he directs the cursor on-screen with a trackball.

"To click, I rely on a flex sensor attached to my toe," Li explained from his residence in Shiping village, close to the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the condition he faces, is an incurable hereditary disorder that primarily impacts males, occurring at a rate of one in 5,000 births.

Over time, it leads to muscle weakness, elevating the risk of falls, then paralysis occurs, affecting heart function and respiration.

Until the early 2000s, boys diagnosed with this condition seldom lived beyond their teenage years. However, with comprehensive care, living into the 30s and even 40s has become achievable.

Li, who once navigated in a wheelchair, faced a sudden health crisis in 2020 at the age of 30. He fell into a coma, became incontinent, and was rendered quadriplegic.

"I was heartbroken," he recounted.

"However, after a few months, I gathered myself and sought meaningful pursuits."

A path forward

He uncovered hydroponics, a cutting-edge growing method where vegetables are cultivated not in soil but in a nutrient-rich water solution.

Partially automated, this technique requires minimal manual effort, allows for precise monitoring of crops, and ensures abundant yields.

"I spent my childhood in the countryside, so I have always interacted with seeds, soil, and vegetables," he noted.

"I also have a passion for digital technology and programming. I realized I could merge both interests."

Li self-taught in computer coding and circuit board design.

His situation is reminiscent of others facing severe neuromotor challenges, like British physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking, who was wheelchair-bound and communicated solely through a voice synthesizer.

Or Jean-Dominique Bauby, who became paralyzed after a stroke and wrote his acclaimed 1997 book "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" by blinking his left eye—the only movement he retained.

For the physical labor on the farm, Li depends on his mother, Wu Dimei.

"She serves as my arms and legs, while I am her brain," he stated.

"Quite satisfied"

Li conveys what needs attention and oversees her tasks in the greenhouses through a video feed to his smartphone.

Wu handles tools, dispenses fertilizer, installs machinery, and connects wires.

In addition to farm responsibilities, she cares for her son around the clock, including cooking and maintaining the ventilation tube in his trachea.

"I have no time to rest," Wu conveyed to AFP.

Even with the support of her daughter, who regularly assists with bathing her brother, Wu only manages to sleep three to five hours each night.

"But it's worth it," asserted Wu, who is divorced. "It may not look like it, but our family is quite content."

Their financial situation mainly depends on Li's sister, who is employed, and their mother's pension.

Li views the high-tech farm as a "niche" with "bright prospects" and hopes to provide his family with a sustainable income.

"If I succeed, it would enable me to realize a dream while also generating income and enhancing our living standards," he expressed.

They relocated to a prefabricated portable house in 2022, and his celery is currently sold to a local supermarket chain.

"But my aspiration is to expand this farm, develop a successful enterprise, produce more, and earn more."

"My drive is to witness our vegetables grow, be harvested, sold, and ultimately reach people's plates."