Smart Agritech is transforming agriculture in China. Moreover, farmers now adopt advanced machinery, artificial intelligence, and drones to boost efficiency. For instance, in Beijing’s Pinggu District, the Xiying Future Orchard demonstrates this technological shift. Automated systems continuously monitor weather. Meanwhile, mechanized equipment handles furrowing, irrigation, fertilization, and harvesting.
Pinggu’s peach industry contributes nearly half of Beijing’s total fruit output value. However, labor shortages and cultivation bottlenecks challenge the sector. Consequently, officials say these pressures have accelerated the adoption of Smart Agritech solutions. In addition, Yu Yongqiang, director of the district’s fruit services center, emphasized that large-scale smart equipment use is now essential for sustainable growth.
Beyond Pinggu, Smart Agritech is reshaping farming across China. In Heilongjiang, rice paddies increasingly rely on automated methods. Similarly, in Zhejiang, tea plantations adopt comparable technologies. Furthermore, in Guangxi’s Baise region, Huang Xianjun introduced drones and other smart tools to his 1,300-mu mango orchard. As a result, costs dropped 30 percent, and yield consistency improved.
Companies like Guangzhou-based XAG drive this transformation. In particular, Justin Gong, XAG co-founder, noted a shift in customer demographics. By 2025, 79 percent of buyers are individual growers. They operate equipment on their own farms and, moreover, provide services to other farmers.
Government support has also accelerated the Smart Agritech transition. Earlier this year, the 2025 No. 1 central document promoted new productive forces through technology. Specifically, it highlights domestic smart machinery, artificial intelligence, and low-altitude tools. Additionally, local governments in Heilongjiang, Zhejiang, and Sichuan implemented supportive policies.
Smart Agritech further relies on strong data infrastructure. For example, China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System supports 2.2 million agricultural machines nationwide as of 2023. Meanwhile, the agricultural machinery industry grew steadily. By 2024, 2,271 enterprises reported annual revenues above 20 million yuan.
China’s Smart Agritech sector is also expanding globally. Exports of machinery and parts totaled 9.305 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2025, marking a 26.5 percent increase. Moreover, XAG exported products to 70 countries. It also participates regularly in the Agritechnica trade fair in Germany, where it showcases new technology.
Experts argue that Smart Agritech not only increases domestic efficiency but also positions China as a hub for research, development, and manufacturing. Therefore, as adoption continues, Chinese agriculture remains a global example of modernization and innovation.
