Trends and Pathways for the Development of Digital Agriculture
Digital agriculture represents the advanced stage of agricultural modernization and is a crucial step in China’s transition from a major agricultural nation to an agricultural power. In recent years, China’s digital agriculture has made remarkable progress but still faces several challenges. Addressing these challenges requires targeted measures, focusing on the main directions of agricultural and rural modernization, providing strong informational support, and injecting new momentum for sustainable and high-quality agricultural development, thereby enhancing farmers’ sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security.
Currently, digital technologies are rapidly permeating various fields, triggering a revolutionary wave of digital transformation globally. In this process, it is imperative to adapt proactively, enhance digital productivity, and accelerate the digital development of all sectors in China’s economy and society, particularly by implementing the digital rural development strategy to promote high-quality development.
In recent years, China has placed significant emphasis on the development of digital agriculture and rural areas. Policies such as the “Action Plan for Promoting Big Data Development” and the “Strategic Plan for Digital Rural Development” have been introduced. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has also issued a series of guidelines, including the “Three-Year Action Plan for Modern Agriculture with ‘Internet+’,” the “Implementation Opinions on Promoting Agricultural and Rural Big Data Development,” and the “13th Five-Year Plan for National Agricultural and Rural Informatization Development.” These policies have facilitated the effective implementation and growth of digital agriculture, making it an essential component of China’s rural revitalization and digital China initiatives.
The Development Potential of Digital Agriculture
1. Vast Potential for the Agricultural Digital Economy
According to the 44th China Internet Development Statistics Report, as of June 2019, China had 854 million internet users, with an internet penetration rate of 61.2%. Among them, rural internet users accounted for 26.3% (225 million), indicating significant potential for growth in rural internet usage. Meanwhile, the agricultural digital economy lags behind manufacturing, services, and other sectors like power, finance, and meteorology. According to the “White Paper on China’s Digital Economy Development and Employment (2019)” published by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, the agricultural digital economy in 2018 accounted for only 7.3% of agricultural value-added, far lower than 18.3% for industry and 35.9% for services.
2. Accelerated Integration of Digital Technology in Agriculture and Rural Areas
New applications of emerging technologies are driving comprehensive digital transformations across all aspects of traditional agriculture, enhancing productivity and amplifying the impact of digital technologies on rural economic and social development. Promoting high-quality agricultural development also requires improvements in green, high-quality, distinctive, and branded agriculture, fostering agricultural transformation and upgrading to enhance overall competitiveness and benefits.
3. Agricultural Digital Transformation is Inevitable
Digital transformation is essential for sustainable and green agriculture, enabling precision farming through real-time online sensor data and historical records. It ensures efficient use of resources, reduces costs, and enhances production quality and efficiency. Furthermore, digital transformation is vital for ensuring the safety of agricultural products and streamlining the supply chain, allowing traceability and transparency. It also facilitates precise matching of agricultural supply and demand, reducing uncertainties and enabling seamless integration between producers and markets.
Current Status of Digital Agriculture in China
Achievements:
- Enhanced rural network infrastructure with fiber optic and 4G coverage exceeding 98% in administrative villages by 2019.
- Rapid initiation of digital agriculture and rural development, with digitalized agricultural production levels reaching 18.6% in 2018.
- Growth in rural e-commerce, reaching a market size of 1.705 trillion yuan in 2018 and covering 64% of administrative villages.
- Pilot projects in agricultural IoT and comprehensive demonstrations in digital agriculture.
Challenges:
- Lagging development in core technologies like sensors and specialized smart chips.
- Inadequate data sharing mechanisms and integration of government information systems.
- Limited use of modern information technologies to solve practical agricultural problems.
- Shortage of skilled labor in rural areas, impeding the application of digital technologies.
Pathways to Advancing Digital Agriculture
1. Building National and Provincial Agricultural Data Centers
Accelerate the construction of integrated digital agricultural resource systems and establish national and provincial agricultural data centers to consolidate existing data and foster collaborative platforms for data sharing.
2. Promoting Agricultural Big Data Development
Focus on key agricultural products and regional production bases to develop comprehensive “vertical” and “horizontal” data systems that enable robust data collection, analysis, and application.
3. Accelerating Digital Agricultural Innovation
Support research and development in smart agriculture and expedite the inclusion of agricultural sensors and smart equipment in subsidy programs. Explore 5G applications in agriculture and promote blockchain technology in agricultural safety and traceability.
4. Expanding the Agricultural Digital Economy
Modernize traditional agriculture through digital transformation, enhance rural e-commerce, and encourage innovative business models like content-driven, quality-focused, and social e-commerce.
5. Advancing Comprehensive Information Services
Integrate resources from government, business, and public services to build user-friendly mobile applications for farmers, expanding coverage and functionality of agricultural information service platforms.
Contributors: Wang Xiaobing, Zhong Yongling, Li Xiang, Kang Chunpeng, Dong Chunyan, Liang Dong, Ma Ye
Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs website