සිචුවාන් වල මොඩ් ගොවියා

Young Chinese farmer adopts intelligent tech for agricultural production

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.

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