Spring planting boosted by satellites, new agricultural tech
Heilongjiang, other provinces expecting bumper crops to ensure nation's food security, Tian Xuefei and Zhou Huiying reports.
Given the region's climate, the best time for transplanting rice to ensure a good harvest is from the middle of May to early June.
Xu, who has worked the land since 1995, said many farmers in the province are benefiting from the new technology.
"The machines can help us save a lot of time, and allow us to seize the best planting opportunities," he said. "With the help of modern agricultural technology and machinery, rice transplanting can be completed about three days earlier, saving about 20,000 yuan ($2,720) in labor costs."
Last year, Xu generated 800,000 yuan in sales from his 33 hectares of rice. "I believe I will see high-quality rice and high yields this autumn," Xu confidently predicted.
In recent years, No 290 Company — which has 51,333 hectares of arable land for growing rice, corn and soybeans — increased its investment in modern agricultural machinery and equipment, upgrading from traditional methods. In 2024, it purchased 620 pieces of modern agricultural machinery.
The company now has a total of 27,000 agricultural machines and rice production has been fully mechanized.
Every year, the company holds a series of agricultural training courses to improve farmers' knowledge and give them guidance on new "intelligent agriculture" ideas.
