In a significant development for China’s agricultural sector, Heilongjiang province, the country’s largest agricultural producer, has reiterated its commitment to leveraging agricultural technology to drive high-quality agricultural development. This announcement came during a group discussion in Beijing on Friday, where National People’s Congress deputies from the province outlined their plans for the next phase of agricultural growth.
Heilongjiang, situated in one of the world’s three major black soil belts, is renowned globally for its prime conditions for corn cultivation and livestock farming. These unique advantages have positioned the province as a leader in modern agriculture. Last year, Heilongjiang achieved a remarkable milestone with a total grain output of 80 billion kilograms, securing its place as China’s top grain producer for the 15th consecutive year. This output accounts for 11.3 percent of the country’s total grain production, underscoring the province’s pivotal role in national food security.
Governor Liang Huiling highlighted that Heilongjiang’s agricultural strategy for this year is firmly focused on modernizing agriculture. The province aims to convert its resource advantages into industrial, economic, and developmental benefits. A key aspect of this strategy is the emphasis on technological innovation. Heilongjiang boasts an impressive array of 78 higher education institutions and 120 independent research institutes, including four national key laboratories dedicated to agriculture. The province is committed to addressing core technological challenges and accelerating the application of research outcomes, with the contribution rate of agricultural technology already standing at 70.8 percent.
The protection and utilization of black soil, often referred to as the “panda of arable land” due to its high nutrient content and exceptional fertility, is another critical focus. Heilongjiang prioritizes the development of high-standard cropland on black soil, integrating soil improvement with the construction of windbreak forest networks. Last year, the province completed the construction of 10.4 million mu (693,333 hectares) of high-standard cropland, with plans to build more than 11.69 million mu this year. This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure stable and high agricultural productivity.
Heilongjiang is also home to the world’s largest state-owned farm group, Beidahuang Group, which exemplifies large-scale, mechanized, and modernized agriculture. Beidahuang Group has accelerated the development of informatization, digitalization, intelligence, and unmanned farming. The group has collaborated with prestigious institutions like the Harbin Institute of Technology and Northeast Agricultural University to establish a national key laboratory for smart agricultural technology and information. Currently, 40 percent of Beidahuang’s agricultural machinery is equipped with automatic driving technology, and over 90 percent of its farms collect field data through sensors, marking a shift from weather-dependent farming to data-driven agriculture.
The implications of these developments are far-reaching. Heilongjiang’s commitment to agricultural technology and modernization sets a benchmark for other provinces, highlighting the potential for technological innovation to transform traditional farming practices. The focus on high-standard cropland and the protection of black soil underscores the importance of sustainable agricultural practices in ensuring long-term food security. As Heilongjiang continues to lead the way in modern agriculture, its experiences and successes will likely influence national policies and practices, driving forward China’s agricultural sector as a whole.
