An educated young farmer in southwest China's Sichuan Province is revolutionizing agricultural production through innovative technologies and business models.
Two years ago, 28-year-old Tang Xinchen chose to resign from an internet company in Chengdu City, capital of the province, and work as a farmer managing a 13-hectare orchard and a 66-hectare rice field in his hometown Qionglai County.
He equips his farm with drones, sensors and automated machinery, and market their products through various online platforms.
"In the beginning, I simply wanted to create new personal value and explore new fields. During that time, I came back to collaborate with a local enterprise to promote local kiwi. Through in-depth research, I discovered that we faced challenges not only on the sales side but also in the cultivation process. The fruits we were producing varied in shape and size and lacked standardization," Tang said.
Through self-study and consulting professionals, it took Tang two months to clear four hectares of dead kiwi in the orchard and replant with oranges. He also improved the soil, pruned and replanted the remaining 9.3 hectares of kiwi. Additionally, he implemented various new technologies and strategies to address the challenges of traditional farming methods.
"[When we designed our orchard,] we allocated space for mechanical equipment and unmanned vehicles, leaving a very large aisle for them," Tang said. To streamline the fruit selection and quality control and achieve better prices for his oranges, he collaborated with a technology company last year to develop an AI sorter. He also shared short videos detailing the co-creation process on the internet.
His short videos have received tens of millions of views. Last year, more than 50,000 kilograms of oranges and 50,000 kilograms of kiwi were sold. The use of scientific and technological methods along with internet promotion has reshaped villagers' understanding and brought them tangible income. Tang plans to further promote standardized planting and technological innovation to establish a planting alliance.
"When we apply advanced science and technology in agricultural production, our aim is to solve problems. It must withstand the test of the market, be capable of mass production, be replicable, and be adoptable by thousands of farmers," Tang said.
Young Chinese farmer adopts intelligent tech for agricultural production
The 2024 Belt and Road Media Community Summit Forum, hosted by the China Media Group (CMG), was held in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Wednesday, gathering attendees from around the world to explore innovative cooperation models and discuss the role of new technologies in advancing the media industry.
The forum, themed "Land Meets Sea: Towards Innovation, Intelligence, and the Future," brought together experts, scholars, and representatives from 160 media organizations across 30 countries and regions.
The event saw the launch of a declaration focused on the joint development and sharing of a technology innovation ecosystem for the Belt and Road media community. The declaration calls on global media outlets to share opportunities, manage risks and promote ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI).
In his opening remarks, Shen Haixiong, president of the CMG, highlighted the group's commitment to enhancing global media cooperation, improving connectivity, and fostering platforms for international dialogue.
After eight years of development, the Belt and Road Media Community, initiated by the CMG, has expanded to include 148 members and partners from 64 countries and regions.
International media participants noted that the initiatives put forward by the community are helping play a crucial role in expanding mutually beneficial cooperation among media outlets worldwide.
"The initiative by the Belt and Road Media Community has been one of the cornerstones in bringing media together, in working together and developing productions and co-productions, which we have been involved with. Every year there are technologies changing, and I think our focus will be to help and guide our members in the use of these technologies, especially AI these days. Because the ethical issues around AI has become a very, very important area for us to focus," said Ahmed Nadeem, secretary general of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union.
During the opening ceremony, several international cooperation projects were signed, while scholars and experts in the media sector were also invited to share their insights on the theme of media transformation through generative AI.
Since its establishment in 2016, the Belt and Road Media Community Summit Forum has evolved into a vital platform for communication and collaboration and has also served as a significant initiative to promote cultural exchange and mutual learning among diverse civilizations.
Belt and Road Media Community Summit Forum held in Chongqing
Belt and Road Media Community Summit Forum held in Chongqing
