Heilongjiang helps power China's agri modernization

HARBIN — Scenes of autonomous tractors working diligently across Heilongjiang province's fertile black soil fields, while intelligent drones fly overhead to monitor crop growth, have become a common sight.

As China's top grain-producing province for 16 consecutive years, Heilongjiang prioritizes agricultural technological innovation to sustain high and stable grain yields and improve farming efficiency and returns. Powered by smart farming solutions, technological upgrading is reshaping the heartland of China's granary in the province, bolstering the country's food security.

In Harbin, the provincial capital, technicians from Heilongjiang DEWO Technology Development Co continuously develop and upgrade precision seeders equipped with real-time operational monitoring systems. Founded in 2009, DEWO is a market leader in China's R&D of full-process potato planting, sowing and harvesting machinery. "The company has maintained full-capacity operation since April to customize precision seeding equipment, which directly underpins planting efficiency," said Wang Chunyan, the company's general manager.

Officially designated as a national pilot zone for the research and development, manufacturing and promotion of large-scale high-end agricultural machinery, Heilongjiang leads the country in the high-quality development of the domestic farm equipment industry. Through technological innovation, the region is driving comprehensive efficiency upgrades for modern agriculture.

DEWO, as a national-level high-tech enterprise, is among a group of tech firms based in Heilongjiang that help power the country's agricultural modernization.

Heilongjiang Huida Technology Co, another high-tech company in the province, produces a full lineup of smart agricultural machines including crop-protection drones and intelligent integrated water-fertilizer irrigation systems.

Its flagship product, an aerial spraying drone, is priced at just over 40,000 yuan ($5,926). It can fly up to 13 minutes with a full payload of over 70 kilograms, and cover large tracts of farmland in 10 minutes. After only a 10-minute charge, the battery can go from zero to 80 percent and is ready to power the machine back into the fields.

Zhang Yu, chairman of Huida, said that over 300 of the company's 700 employees work in R&D. The firm is focusing on the R&D of unmanned agricultural vehicles and farming robots, while optimizing after-sales service systems.

"We aim to advance global smart agriculture and deliver more Chinese solutions for digital farming worldwide," Zhang said.

Huida's drone products have been exported to 60 countries and regions, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Indonesia and Vietnam.

DEWO's international sales manager He Chunling said China-made agricultural machines are empowering farms around the world. In Kazakhstan, farmers have used the company's equipment for spring plowing and potato planting. Local customers have seen a steady increase in potato yields after switching to planters equipped with fertilizer systems.

XINHUA