In a significant move to boost its agricultural sector, China has released its latest \"No. 1 central document\" on Sunday, reaffirming its commitment to advancing agricultural technology. The document emphasizes collaborative research, technological breakthroughs, and the development of cutting-edge farming solutions aimed at enhancing efficiency and sustainability across the nation.
Central to the plan is the role of technological innovation in optimizing production factors, fostering leading agricultural enterprises, and strengthening key research platforms. One such initiative highlighted is \"Nanfan Silicon Valley,\" a breeding base located in southern China that leverages the warm winter and spring climate on Hainan Island for advanced crop breeding practices.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, alongside the National Development and Reform Commission and other authorities, unveiled an action plan for the Nanfan Scientific and Research Breeding Base in Sanya on January 31, 2024. By 2030, the plan aims to establish the breeding base as a national-level hub for industry innovation, encompassing scientific research, production, sales, scientific exchanges, and achievement transfer.
The document also underscores the promotion of biological breeding, high-quality agricultural machinery, and smart agriculture, integrating artificial intelligence (AI), data, and low-altitude technologies to modernize farming practices.
Last year, the national inventory of agricultural machinery surpassed 200 million units, with over 2.2 million units of terminal equipment utilizing the country's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System deployed. The overall mechanization rate for crop planting, cultivation, and harvesting has risen to more than 74 percent, with the cultivation of the three primary staple crops now largely mechanized, according to China Media Group reports from last December.
In addition to large-scale mechanization, innovative smart farms like Fuxi Farmland in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei Province, are setting new standards. Utilizing big data and AI, engineers can manage grain planting by controlling remote unmanned machines from a control center located 20 kilometers away, accessing real-time crop information through extensive monitoring systems.
East China's Zhejiang Province has also issued an action plan to develop the low-altitude economy in agricultural and rural areas, aiming to integrate this sector further to enhance agriculture. By 2027, Zhejiang plans to deploy over 10,000 agricultural drones and build 100 intelligent monitoring points for agricultural production, fostering a more connected and efficient agricultural landscape.
With these strategic initiatives, China is laying the groundwork for a more efficient, sustainable, and technologically advanced agricultural future.
Reference(s):
China reaffirms commitment to advancing agricultural technology
cgtn.com
