In the vast farmlands of northeast China's Liaoning Province, a quiet revolution is unfolding. Farmers like Cui Qiang are swapping traditional tools for palm-sized drones, transforming dusty overalls for clean white shirts while boosting crop yields – proof that agricultural innovation is fueling what experts call \"Chinese modernization.\"
Cui, speaking to CGTN reporter Hou Sen in Dagujiazi Town, explained how drones now handle pesticide spraying across 40 hectares of his fields. \"The cost is similar to the past, but the effect is better,\" he said, noting a 30% yield increase last season. Meanwhile, automation lets him manage operations remotely through a mobile app – a world away from grueling manual labor.
This shift reflects China's broader push to integrate technology into food production. Over 400,000 agricultural drones were deployed nationwide in 2023, cutting water usage by 60% and pesticide waste by 50% compared to traditional methods according to industry data.
\"Modern tools like these aren’t just gadgets – they’re building blocks for modernization,\" Hou observed during field reporting. For young professionals eyeing rural revitalization or entrepreneurs developing agri-tech startups, such innovations reveal how tradition and technology can coexist in 21st-century development strategies.
Reference(s):
Mapping Chinese modernization: Farmers use drones to boost efficiency
cgtn.com
