NANJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- With a quick tap on a smartphone screen, a smart drip irrigation system is activated, delivering a precise mix of water and fertilizer directly to the roots of wheat plants through a network of pipes.
This scene, unfolding in fields across China, marks a significant departure from the traditional labor-intensive methods that once defined the country's spring sowing season. As 2026 spring farming gains momentum, integrated digital solutions and artificial intelligence (AI) are redefining agricultural productivity.
PRECISION IN FIELDS
At a smart farmland in Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province, over 3,800 mu (about 253.3 hectares) of fields are managed with minimal human presence. Drones patrolling at low altitudes transmit real-time data to a central system, which generates 3D agricultural maps. AI models then analyze these maps to issue precise instructions for irrigation and fertilization.
"We are rushing to fertilize while the weather is clear. My 500 mu of land was covered by agricultural drones in less than two days," said Sun Hongxia, a local grower in Changzhou in southern Jiangsu. "Technology makes management more precise. We are confident of a bumper harvest."
Smart technology is also evident in the seeding process. According to Hou Jun, general manager of an agricultural machinery company based in Jiangsu, new pneumatic intelligent seeding equipment fitted with computer boards ensures consistent depth and precise seed volume, significantly improving seedling emergence rates compared to traditional mechanical sowers.
EFFICIENCY GAINS
In a vegetable industrial park in Wuxi in Jiangsu, automated seedling machines are operating at full speed, completing the entire process from soil filling and seeding to watering.
"In the past, we needed at least 20 workers. Now, four people can easily handle the task," said Zhang Dapeng, head of the base.
Zhang noted that the introduction of smart germination rooms and track transport vehicles has improved both efficiency and seedling quality.
Even traditional tea production is seeing a greener upgrade. In the provincial capital city Nanjing's Gaochun District, more than 4,000 mu of tea gardens are monitored via the Internet of Things (IoT). By switching from traditional charcoal stoves to intelligent, electrified production lines, the quality rate of tea leaves has increased by nearly 50 percent, while the factory's annual income has grown by 70 percent.
NATIONWIDE DIGITAL EXPANSION
This digital transformation of the spring plow is a national trend. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shows that the contribution rate of agricultural science and technology progress in China had exceeded 64 percent in 2025.
China has also proposed actions to promote high-quality agricultural machinery and integrate "fine seeds, fine fields and smart machinery."
The smart agriculture map is expanding rapidly from coastal plains to inland frontiers. To support the technological shift, local departments are coordinating efforts. Meteorological bureaus are providing specialized sowing services, while power supply departments ensure stable energy for automated facilities.
"Digital and intelligent technologies are penetrating every link of China's spring farming," said Yi Zhongyi, head of Jiangsu's academy of rural vitalization.
"By transitioning toward green and efficient operations, we are breaking the bottlenecks of high energy consumption and low efficiency in traditional agriculture, injecting strong momentum into high-quality agricultural development." ■
