Modernized agriculture drives rural revitalization in China

Editor's note: Li Zhi is the assistant dean of the China Institute of Development Planning, Tsinghua University. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Agricultural modernization constitutes one of the most crucial aspects of China's ongoing modernization process. Data indicates that in 2024, China's grain output ascended to a new milestone of 700 million tonnes for the first time. The contribution rate of science and technology in agriculture surpassed 63 percent, and the development of full-process agricultural mechanization reached a novel height. Simultaneously, in the first three quarters of 2024, the per capita disposable income of rural residents amounted to 16,740 yuan ($2293), experiencing a year-on-year growth of 6.6 percent. This fully attests to the conspicuous benefits that modernized agriculture has brought to China.

There are two primary aspects that need to be emphasized in agricultural modernization: quantity and quality. 

From the quantitative perspective, agricultural modernization requires ensuring the security of cultivated land area and the supply of key agricultural products, while achieving an optimized and balanced quantity structure. Agricultural products are not merely about abundance; rather, they should be rationally configured in terms of variety. It has been observed that there exists a considerable waste of agricultural products in current Chinese agriculture. Modernized agriculture should optimize the structure of agricultural products to guarantee that every grain grown by farmers can exert its due role and value.

From the qualitative perspective, the modernization of agricultural quality is of paramount significance. High agricultural output should not be achieved at the expense of soil quality decrease, pesticide pollution or excessive utilization of fertilizers. We must assume a high level of responsibility for the safety of land and agricultural products, ensure the quality of agricultural products, and enhance the dietary safety of residents. This is also of great significance in the entire high-quality development system of the country, as the quality of people's lives primarily hinges on "eating with reassurance."

In addition, the development of modernized agriculture also demands attention to several issues.

Firstly, the economic aspect of agriculture must be taken into account. China must ensure that farmers do not become poorer as they expand their farming operations. The production factors of agriculture should be rationally allocated to enable agricultural workers to truly benefit from agricultural production. This serves as a prerequisite for tapping the consumption potential in rural areas. There should be definite institutional guarantees for capital investment in agricultural production, further reform of the land usage management system, encouragement of private enterprises to participate in agricultural investment, and expansion of the profit margin in agriculture.

Secondly, a full consideration of the balance between land use and urban planning is necessary. China ought to guarantee that neither the total quantity nor the quality of cultivated land diminishes. It should firmly put an end to the "non-agricultural" and "non-grain" utilization of cultivated land and ensure that cultivated land is predominantly employed for food production. However, in terms of territorial space planning, big data and artificial intelligence methods should also be comprehensively employed to formulate reasonable plans for the utilization of cultivated land and forest land. Rigidity should be avoided, and sufficient urban space should be reserved for future high-quality agricultural development. Various types of urban spaces can be utilized to develop three-dimensional agriculture. Technologies such as fruit-vegetable factories and soilless cultivation can promote the high-quality development of agriculture.

Thirdly, the relationship between agriculture and environmental ecology must be balanced, with particular attention paid to carbon emissions. Contrary to the common perception, agriculture, especially animal husbandry, is actually a high-emission industry. Therefore, a balance must be struck between carbon emissions and agriculture. For instance, the agricultural value of solar power plants or wind farms can be explored, and hydropower systems can be utilized to improve agricultural irrigation conditions.

Fourthly, artificial intelligence should be utilized to enhance agricultural production efficiency. Currently, the development of smart agriculture is highly dynamic. For example, methods of visual recognition can be employed to improve agricultural harvesting efficiency, optimize the timing of agricultural product harvesting, predict soil moisture conditions, and select the best breeding and selection methods. These are all areas where agricultural modernization can be profoundly expanded in terms of technological application.

Fifthly, international agricultural cooperation should be strengthened. China's agricultural development not only requires external support but also its experiences can serve as a reference for other countries. For example, the large-scale mechanized agriculture of the United States can be applicable in the vast plains of northern China, while China's flexible and diverse small-scale and meticulous agricultural approaches are also of great interest to many developing countries.

Overall, China's national conditions are highly complex, and agriculture pertains to the nation's lifeline. With the alterations in the population structure of agricultural and non-agricultural populations in China, the constraints of space, land, and the environment will intensify increasingly in the future. China is exploring a new path for agricultural development, which is also a meritorious undertaking that benefits the present and future generations worldwide.