Key to development

The application of digital technology in the agricultural industry is key to the overall promotion of the development of the digital economy, and the central government has frequently proposed using science and technology to bolster the development of agricultural and rural areas.

While presiding over a study session of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in October, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said authorities need to promote the integrated development of the digital and real economies, grasp the direction of digitalization, networks and intelligence, and promote digitalization in industries such as manufacturing, services and agriculture.

Xi also asked authorities to make use of new internet technologies to transform traditional industries in an all-around way, raise productivity and make good use of digital technologies to boost economic development.

In January, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council jointly issued a document on the work of comprehensively promoting rural vitalization this year. It asked authorities to promote digitalization growth in villages, promote the development of smart agriculture, strengthen farmers' digital literacy and skills training, empower rural public services with digital technology, focus on solving practical problems and expand the application scenarios of agricultural and rural big data.

To promote its digital economy, Huichang county worked with JD Farm, the agriculture management and retailing service of e-commerce operator JD.com, to provide technology, brand empowerment and marketing support for digital agriculture projects and carry out production standardization and digitization exploration.

JD Farm also provides access to high-tech facilities and software to help monitor the soil, the weather and pesticide use. It also makes real-time recordings of the growth of crops such as rice and navel oranges, and it helps train farmers and business operators to ensure production meets quality standards.