As China embarks on a transformative journey to modernise its agricultural sector, the integration of smart technologies and the deployment of the 5G network are at the forefront of this evolution.
China Central Television reports that the central authorities in China have placed a significant emphasis on agriculture and rural development, marking it as a top priority during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).
To propel agricultural modernisation forward, China has implemented a series of measures and initiated comprehensive rural reforms, achieving notable progress in several key areas. The construction of agricultural infrastructure has been significantly bolstered. With over one billion mu (approximately 66.67 million hectares) of high-standard farmland developed, grain production capacity has seen an increase of 10 percent to 20 percent per mu.
The expansion of rural roads has also been remarkable, with the total mileage reaching 4.6 million km. This development ensures that all qualified towns and villages are connected by hardened roads, and more than 80 percent of administrative villages now have access to 5G networks.
Scientific and technological innovation plays a pivotal role in driving agricultural modernisation in China. The contribution rate of agricultural science and technology progress has surpassed 63 percent. Additionally, the self-sufficiency rate of crop sources in China stands at over 95 percent. The country has also seen widespread application of agricultural machinery equipped with China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System terminals and nearly 200,000 plant protection drones.
The introduction of modern science and technology has not only made traditional agriculture more efficient but also significantly improved agricultural production methods. The mechanisation rate in crop plowing, planting, and harvesting increased from 67.2 percent in 2017 to 73 percent in 2022. This technological advancement has contributed to China securing a grain harvest of over 650 million tonnes for the ninth consecutive year in 2023.
Furthermore, China is diligently working towards establishing a modern agricultural industrial system. Currently, the country boasts 289,000 village-level comprehensive delivery and logistics service stations and 75,000 refrigeration and fresh-keeping facilities in production areas. These developments ensure that fresh agricultural produce can quickly reach larger markets.
This strategic focus on modernising agriculture through smart technologies and infrastructure development underscores China’s commitment to enhancing its agricultural sector’s efficiency and productivity. As these initiatives continue to unfold, they are set to redefine the future landscape of agriculture in China.
With inputs from WAM
