Higher Mechanization in Agriculture

Over the past decade, the mechanization rate of crop cultivation and harvesting in China increased from 57 percent to 72 percent — with the rates for wheat, corn, and rice exceeding 97 percent, 90 percent, and 85 percent respectively. “The rapid development in agricultural mechanization boosts crop outputs and farmers’ income increases. Agricultural production in China now primarily relies on machinery instead of human or animal labor,” said Wang Jiayun, an official of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

China produces more than 4,000 types of machinery spanning almost the entire spectrum of agricultural technology. Its annual production of 200 million units can meet 90 percent of the domestic demands. In the No.1 central document (issued by China’s central authorities each year and is an important indicator of that year’s policy priorities about agriculture, farmers, and rural areas) of this year, the central authorities announced intensifying efforts to crack technology bottlenecks, accelerate research and development of powerful machines — particularly of those used in hilly terrain and gardening, and highend smart machines among others, and provide long-term support.