China has rolled out plans to develop smart agriculture by giving prominence to the completion of seven major tasks by 2028 in terms of precision planting, digitalized cultivation and intelligent livestock breeding and fisheries.
Released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the plans include guidelines and action items that focus on significantly improving the application of smart agriculture. Key areas of emphasis include promoting precision planting of major grains, digitizing agricultural equipment, and enhancing intelligent livestock breeding and fisheries.
"We have orchestrated a monitoring network consisting of remote satellites, drone surveillance and ground screening, enabling real-time and comprehensive monitoring of agricultural meteorology, soil moisture content, and environmental factors such as pests and diseases. This greatly improves our ability to monitor and forecast agricultural disasters," said Wang Yaozong, director of the Department of Market and Informatization at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
For the first time, the construction of public service capacity for smart agriculture has been proposed. To support this initiative, relevant authorities will build a big data platform for agriculture and rural affairs and develop a range of models and tools to promote the digital transformation of farmers and agricultural businesses at low costs.
In Xiong'an New Area, Hebei Province, a smart farm called Fuxi Farmland has been implemented in various cities across China.
Utilizing big data and artificial intelligence (AI), engineers can manage grain planting by controlling remote unmanned machines from a control center located 20 kilometers away, while accessing real-time information about crops through a large monitoring screen.
"The smart agricultural machines are equipped with various intelligent control systems. Following the pre-set routes, they can operate accurately according to our pathways, with support from the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, all initiated through an app on a mobile phone or smart terminal," said Bi Zhiqiang, an engineer at the Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Besides serving sowing and planting links, smart equipment also enhances breeding efficiency by creating models based on big data to optimize processes. To date, Fuxi Farm has been established in several provinces, facilitated by the deepening integration of technologies such as the Internet of Things and AI with agriculture.
China raises seven major tasks to develop smart agriculture
Chinese President Xi Jinping's New Year message on Tuesday inspired people across China, with many saying achievements of the past year mentioned by Xi encouraged them to do better in 2025.
Delivering the message on New Year's eve, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, reviewed China's journey in the past year, saying the country and its people "have experienced winds and rains and seen rainbows," and the touching and unforgettable moments are like still frames showing how extraordinary a year China has had.
"President Xi said that the most important job is to ensure a happy life for the people. We now have medical insurance for hospital visits, and the education for our children is free. We also run a homestay business, and our income has increased every year. We have full confidence in the future, and people of all ethnic groups will remain closely united like the seeds of a pomegranate to create a better life together," said a villager in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Xi mentioned China's grain production in his speech, which encouraged a farmer in central China's Henan Province.
"I was greatly encouraged by President Xi's message, which said our country's grain production surpassed 700 million tons in 2024, and 'China's bowls are now filled with more Chinese grain.' We grain farmers are full of confidence, and we must work harder and stay focused, make good use of modern agricultural technology to improve grain output and quality," said grain farmer Cui Meihong.
Xi also spoke highly of Chinese athletes, saying their performance at the Paris Olympics fully demonstrated the vigor and confidence of young Chinese.
"President Xi mentioned us athletes forging ahead in his New Year message. In 2025, I will keep pushing myself to achieve more, show the morale and sharpness of Chinese youth in the new era, show the open, inclusive, high-spirited and enterprising image of our country in the new era, and inspire more people to strive for their dreams with my sportsmanship," said Chinese shooter Sheng Lihao, who won two gold medals at the Paris Olympics.
In the past year, China fostered new quality productive forces in light of actual conditions, Xi said in his speech.
For the first time, China produced more than 10 million new energy vehicles in a year, and breakthroughs were made in integrated circuit, artificial intelligence, quantum communications and many other fields, Xi said.
He also mentioned the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a mega cross-sea passage in south China that features two bridges, two artificial islands, and an underwater tunnel.
"General Secretary Xi mentioned the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link in the New Year message. Since it opened to traffic six months ago, more than 15 million car trips have been made on it. We will manage and utilize the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link well, and provide better transport service for the cause of building the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into a strategic pivot of the new development pattern, a demonstration site for high-quality development, and a leading site for Chinese modernization," said Yang Yang, deputy director of the management center of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link.
"As a worker in the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, I am extremely proud of the rapid development of China's NEV sector. Technologies such as automated robots, 5G communications and digital twins have greatly improved our work efficiency, and I will continue to work with passion in 2025 to build better cars for our customers and create greater value for society," said autoworker Wang Yun.
"China's achievements in integrated circuit, artificial intelligence and quantum communications mentioned by President Xi have greatly encouraged us. We will strive courageously to promote the miniaturization and chip-based development of quantum communications, and contribute more of our wisdom and power to building China's strength in science and technology," said Tang Shibiao, head of the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Center.
People encouraged by China's achievements in past year after Xi's 2025 New Year message
