Tech-driven smart farming powers spring plowing across China

Spring plowing is underway across China with a technological edge, as drones, smart monitors and automated machinery bring precision and efficiency to fields.

In Yuanjiang City, central China's Hunan Province, rice seedling cultivation has been upgraded with a new crawler-type gantry that moves smoothly across nursery beds. Unlike earlier models that required fixed tracks, the latest version features an integrated mobility system suited for soft and uneven terrain. It is also equipped with automated sprayers that boost both efficiency and seedling quality.

"With flood irrigation, the seedling pass rate was around 90 percent. After switching to the gantry sprinkler system, the pass rate has exceeded 98 percent and the seedlings have stronger, thicker, and longer roots," said Cheng Legen, technical director of Yuanjiang Modern Agricultural Technology Research and Development Base.

In Tumxuk City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 950,000 mu (about 63,333 hectares) of cotton are being sown using advanced precision seeders that combine drip irrigation tape laying, seeding, mulching and soil covering in a single pass.

Guided by BeiDou navigation systems, the equipment plants one seed per hole at a depth of 2.5 centimeters, with up to 17,600 seeds per mu (264,000 seeds per hectare). Drip irrigation begins within 48 hours after seeding, ensuring each seed receives just the right amount of water.

In Wuhan City, central China's Hubei Province, a 20,000-mu (about 1,333 hectares) stretch of high-standard farmland has become a showcase for smart agriculture. Driverless tractors, automatic transplanters, crop-dusting drones and soil sensors work in tandem to form an integrated production system.

"Farming these days feels more like running a smart factory. Key steps like temperature control for seedlings and integrated water-fertilizer management require a very stable power supply. When the electricity is reliable, we feel more at ease," said Tao Zhe, a technician at Wuhan Yongwang Agricultural Products Cooperative.

To meet the growing power demands of smart agriculture, local utilities have rolled out intelligent grids that monitor electricity loads in real time and automatically flag anomalies, ensuring prompt repairs and a stable power supply during peak planting season.

From precision seeding to intelligent irrigation and stable power support, the integration of digital tools is transforming spring plowing into a data-driven, highly efficient process - laying a solid foundation for another year of bumper harvests. 

Tech-driven smart farming powers spring plowing across China

Flood control and disaster relief teams are stepping up efforts in Piaohe Township, Jiaohe City, in northeast China’s Jilin Province as Typhoon Bavi moves northward, bringing intense rainfall across the region.

Typhoon Bavi, the ninth of the year, made landfall twice along the coast of east China's Zhejiang Province at 23:20 Saturday and again around midnight, then moved inland. It is the second typhoon this month following Typhoon Maysak, which brought heavy floods and wreaked havoc in southern China.

Piaohe Township, located in the southeastern part of Jiaohe City, is among the hardest-hit areas. The township is particularly vulnerable due to converging water flows from the upstream Baishishan and Pihe River basins. To cope with the heavy downpour, more than 440 emergency personnel in the township have been deployed to prevent flood and evacuate residents from affected areas to safer locations.

The continuous rainfall has pushed water levels of Piaohe and Qingbei rivers flowing through the township to exceed warning thresholds, posing dangers of flash floods, landslides, and mudslides.

"We have activated 24-hour duty shifts, with inspections of rainfall conditions and potential hazards conducted every two hours. We are making effort to evacuate residents along the Piaohe River and Qingbei (river) basins to ensure their safety," said Zhang Peng, secretary of the Communist Party of China branch of Piaohe Township.

According to the Jiaohe City's Flood Control and Drought Relief Department, the cumulative rainfall in the City has reached 156.7 mm as of 15:00 on Tuesday.

Local authorities have coordinated efforts across multiple departments to promptly inspect and repair damaged roads and embankments, aiming to minimize the risk of river flooding.

Northeast China's Jilin steps up flood control as Typhoon Bavi brings heavy rain

Northeast China's Jilin steps up flood control as Typhoon Bavi brings heavy rain