Rural vitalization supported by State Grid's safety services

In Taihe county, Anhui province, State Grid Taihe Power Supply Company organized a Party member team to provide services in agricultural irrigation and seedling sites. They conducted inspections on power lines and other agricultural electrical equipment and introduced electrical safety knowledge to guide farmers in safe electricity usage, in a bid to contribute to rural vitalization.

Wang Wenpeng is a vegetable grower who has a large-scale greenhouse in Zhendong village, Santang town in the county. In his greenhouse, a dozen of workers are busy harvesting the Shanghaiqing vegetables, also known as bok choy. After weighing and packing, the vegetables are transported to a cold storage facility and then shipped in bulk to the Yangtze River Delta region such as Shanghai and Nanjing. The automated irrigation equipment can water the vegetables independently.

Santang town in Taihe county is one of the major bok choy planting bases in the country. In recent years, some local growers have increased their yields and income by adopting new technologies, and using new equipment for large-scale cultivation. Currently, the production and sales of bok choy in the area have entered peak season.

Wang said: "I have planted 60 acres (four hectares) of bok choy. All the watering equipment has been upgraded to be electrically automated. After pressing a button, the watering begins. With the help of new technologies and equipment, I can grow two crops a year. It has increased my income."

With the support of new irrigation equipment and technologies, a series of data such as temperature, humidity, soil fertility and light intensity can be monitored in real-time, ensuring suitable temperature and humidity for vegetable growth with sufficient water and nutrients. According to Wang, bok choy has high water demands during the current season, requiring watering every four to five days.

"Now, electricity has been connected to the greenhouse, making it much more convenient than using gasoline engines for watering. It also saved a significant amount in costs. By controlling the greenhouse temperature well and ensuring adequate water and nutrients, vegetables can be harvested after about 20 days of growth. With seven to eight harvests per year, local residents' income has significantly increased," Wang said.

In recent years, while developing his own business, Wang has also encouraged surrounding residents to engage in greenhouse vegetable cultivation. The vegetable planting area in Santang town has reached 800 hectares, with an annual output of more than 100,000 metric tons. Greenhouse vegetable cultivation has become a signature industry in the area. Eighteen cold storage facilities covering nearly 20,000 square meters were established to maintain a constant zero degrees Celsius temperature, which is helpful for the preservation of vegetables.