Young farmer uses modern technology to empower traditional agriculture in SW China

Shu Xingyu (L) talks with a tractor operator in Shiqiao Village of Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024.

For Shu Xingyu, a professional manager of a specialized agricultural machinery cooperative in Chongzhou of southwest China's Sichuan Province, the days starting from early May to early June is a busy farming season of a year.

In addition to the work on harvesting wheat and transplanting rice, Shu is also busy coordinating the plowing, organizing drones to spread pesticide, arranging the drying of harvested wheat, and distributing rice seedlings among local farmers.

Shu Xingyu graduated in 2015 from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and a few years later he resigned his work and brought modern agricultural technology back to his hometown. At present, the specialized agricultural cooperative in which he works has realized the mechanized operation of the whole process of farming, providing services for more than 40,000 mu (about 2,667 hectares) of farmlands.

"As an agricultural worker from the young generation, we need to use modern machinery and equipment to empower traditional agriculture and shoulder the responsibility of national food security," Shu said. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu checks the ripeness of wheat in Guquan Village of Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024.(Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu makes a plan on machinery of rice transplanting for the next day in Xiaohe Village of Dongjiageng Township of Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024.(Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu (C) and drone operators talk about the spread of pesticide in Wanchun Township of Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 16, 2024.(Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu talks on the phone with a local farmer about the service terms for agricultural machines in Shiqiao Village of Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu (C) talks with his colleagues at a wheat drying warehouse of an agricultural machinery cooperative in Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024.(Xinhua/Wang Xi)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 15, 2024 shows farmers carrying seedlings in a farmland in Shiqiao Village of Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu (C) talks with his colleagues at a wheat drying warehouse of an agricultural machinery cooperative in Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024.(Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu (L) makes a point to remind farmers as they use a seedling planting machine in Xiaohe Village of Dongjiageng Township of Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu (3rd L) helps carry seedlings in a farmland in Shiqiao Village of Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024.(Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu checks the wheat grain at a wheat drying warehouse of an agricultural machinery cooperative in Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024.(Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu checks the ripeness of wheat in Guquan Village of Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024.(Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu (L) and an accountant check inventory of the amount of newly-harvested wheat in the warehouse of an agricultural machinery cooperative in Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024.(Xinhua/Wang Xi)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 15, 2024 shows harvesters on operation in a farmland in Guquan Village of Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu (L) tells workers about the using of seedling planting machine in Guquan Village of Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 15, 2024.

(Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Shu Xingyu poses for a photo in front of a wall featuring his portrait in an agricultural machinery cooperative in Chongzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 16, 2024.(Xinhua/Wang Xi)