China Transforms Agriculture into a High-Tech Industry
In the technological demonstration park for rice farming in Fujin, located in Heilongjiang province, digital systems collect data on temperature, humidity, plant development, diseases, and pests. Cameras, satellite images, BeiDou navigation, and artificial intelligence tools are used for this purpose. The park covers an area of about 667 hectares.
Heilongjiang has been the leading province in grain production in China for 16 consecutive years. Its flat terrain and high level of mechanization allow for the use of autonomous tractors, drones, and precision farming systems. Equipment with BeiDou navigation can follow a set route, perform sowing, and apply fertilizers without constant driver control.
Automation is also used for irrigation. According to a local cooperative, the irrigation management system has reduced water consumption for rice cultivation from approximately 900 to 450–500 cubic meters per mu of land. One mu is equivalent to 666.67 square meters. Digital tools also allow for the assessment of individual plots' conditions when selecting the amount of fertilizers or plant protection products.
Agricultural drones can carry up to 100 kg of fertilizers and treat around 67 hectares in a day. Their use is not only associated with reducing manual labor; the rates of application change depending on the condition of specific parts of the field. Systems are being developed in the province that analyze plants, assess the likelihood of diseases, and determine treatment timing. Experts note that the use of AI is still in its early stages, and many solutions are being tested in demonstration zones.
Beijing considers the digitalization of agriculture as part of measures to ensure food security. Meanwhile, expensive equipment, sensors, and software systems are easier to amortize in large farms than for small farmers. Algorithm performance depends on the quality of the collected data; in the model used, machines perform repetitive operations, programs process the information, and specialists make decisions.
Kazakh and Chinese scientific organizations are discussing research and joint breeding of varieties adapted to Kazakhstan's conditions. The list of crops includes wheat, corn, sorghum, sunflower, and canola. This issue was highlighted at the meeting on September 18 at the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan. Potential areas for the application of Chinese solutions in Kazakhstan include automated irrigation management, moisture sensors, satellite observation, autonomous tractors, and agro-drones.
China is simultaneously becoming one of the largest markets for Kazakh agricultural products. From January to June 2026, Kazakhstan supplied agricultural products worth $1.1 billion, almost double the amount during the same period the previous year. Supplies include grain, vegetable oils, oilseeds, and feeds. In September, the countries launched an electronic platform for trading grain and other agricultural products; the first result was a contract to supply 24,000 tons of Kazakh flax. The platform also provides Kazakh manufacturers the opportunity to participate in Chinese government tenders and includes a payment mechanism to ensure timely deliveries.
