The Harvest: This Week in Rural China – Dispatch No. 11 (28 February 2025)

Spring Awakens: Rural China's Fight for Food Security, Innovation, and Survival.

Feb. 26. Farmers sow wheat in Tongfu Village, Helan County, Ningxia, as spring planting kicks off. Photograph by Wang Peng/Xinhua News Agency

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Harvest.

In this dispatch:

• Spring Awakening: The Diversity of Rural China on Show

• Beijing’s Rural Gamble: Why China is Doubling Down on Food Security and the Countryside

• A Model for Rural China? Why Zhangjiakou’s Agricultural Reforms Matter Now

• Desert Pioneers: How Israeli Technology is Transforming China’s Gobi Agriculture

Spring in China’s countryside has always been a season of renewal. As such, it is again accompanied by pressing questions about labour, land use, and the shifting relationship between rural and urban life. In this edition of The Harvest, we dig into the policies, the realities, and the narratives shaping rural China today.

I always welcome your insights—your feedback helps shape the direction of every edition. Please share your thoughts in the comments below or reach me at nathan@thisweekinruralchina.com.

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Now, let’s dive into this week’s stories:

In the wheat fields of Zhaojiapo Chang Village, Chang’an District, Xi’an, self-propelled high-clearance sprayers (自走式高杆喷雾设备) carry out chemical weed spraying.

Spring Awakening: The Diversity of Rural China on Show

As February draws to a close, rural China is stirring to life, revealing a landscape as varied as the country itself. From the frozen plains of Heilongjiang to the tea fields of Yunnan, the spring season unfolds differently across each region, shaped by climate, geography, and tradition. But with unpredictable weather patterns and shifting growing conditions, farmers increasingly turn to science and technology to guide them through the crucial months ahead.

In Henan, a key wheat-producing province, sharp temperature swings this week—ranging from -7.6°C to 15.6°C—have left farmers on edge. Agronomists are urging caution, advising against premature irrigation that could expose young wheat shoots to frost damage. Meanwhile, in the citrus orchards of Sichuan, where temperatures have hovered between 5.1°C and 17.8°C, farmers are racing to protect their crops from potential cold snaps after a milder-than-usual winter.

Further south in Hainan, early rice crops are progressing through the vital tillering stage under relatively stable conditions of 8.4°C to 16.6°C. Farmers are relying more than ever on the Hainan Agri-Met (海南农业气象) app, which provides real-time weather data, extreme weather alerts, and tailored agricultural advice. Drone technology is also playing a growing role, with multi-spectral imaging used to detect nutrient deficiencies before they become visible to the naked eye.

In Heilongjiang, the country’s northernmost grain belt, winter still grips the land. With temperatures in Harbin ranging from -21.4°C to just below freezing, planting is still weeks away. But preparations are well underway—machinery is being serviced, soil conditions tested, and crop rotations planned for soybeans and corn, staples of the region’s output.

Yunnan, by contrast, offers a glimpse of early abundance. With temperatures fluctuating between 6.4°C and 20.3°C, farmers are already harvesting vegetables, tea, and flowers for export. However, concerns linger over shifting rainfall patterns that could disrupt future planting cycles, adding a layer of uncertainty to a region known for its steady climate.

Over in Xinjiang, where agriculture is heavily dependent on irrigation, farmers are keeping a close eye on snowmelt levels. Urumqi has seen temperatures range from -8.9°C to 15.1°C this week and water availability in the months ahead will depend on how the seasonal thaw unfolds. Authorities are already preparing cloud-seeding operations to supplement reservoirs, ensuring sufficient irrigation for the province’s cotton and fruit farms.

As China moves into spring, the diversity of its rural landscapes is on full display. From frozen wheat fields to blooming tea plantations, each region follows its own rhythm—bound by the seasons, shaped by history, and now, increasingly influenced by technology.

More photography of the self-propelled high-clearance sprayers, this time in Renchen Village, Lintong District, Xi’an.

Beijing’s Rural Gamble: Why China is Doubling Down on Food Security and the Countryside

With economic pressures mounting, urban unemployment rising, and global trade risks increasing, China’s leadership is betting on rural revitalisation and food security as pillars of long-term stability. This week’s No.1 central document (中央一号文件)—the Communist Party’s annual rural policy blueprint—outlines a decisive push to modernise agriculture and strengthen self-sufficiency, marking the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan (十四五规划) and the five-year transition period (五年过渡期) that links poverty alleviation with rural development.

The document highlights six key priorities, from securing grain supply and consolidating poverty alleviation efforts to developing rural industries and improving local governance. Alongside it, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has issued an implementation opinion (实施意见) detailing 40 specific measures, including breakthroughs in crop breeding (生物育种), the expansion of smart agriculture (智慧农业), and the application of AI and big data in farming. The heavy emphasis on technological self-reliance suggests growing concern over China’s vulnerability to external supply chain disruptions. Recent tensions with key agricultural exporters like the US, Brazil, and Australia have underscored the risks of dependence on foreign grain and soybeans, prompting Beijing to accelerate domestic innovation in seed technology and precision farming.

This rural strategy also aims to strengthen county-level economies, reducing pressure on overcrowded cities by promoting local industries and infrastructure development. Yet whether these measures will genuinely revitalise rural areas remains doubtful. Despite state-led investment, much of the countryside still struggles with an ageing population and limited economic opportunity. The push for agricultural modernisation will benefit state-backed enterprises more than small farmers, potentially consolidating farmland under large agribusiness rather than fostering independent rural economies.

The timing of these announcements is critical. As China enters a challenging economic period, rural revitalisation—once framed as a long-term goal—is now a political necessity. The leadership faces a delicate balance: achieving food security without distorting the agricultural market, promoting high-tech farming without sidelining traditional rural livelihoods, and fostering local economies without excessive state intervention. With 2025 marking a crucial year in China’s economic trajectory, the success or failure of these policies will be a key test of whether Beijing’s top-down approach can truly deliver rural prosperity—or if it risks becoming another ideological slogan.

An aerial view of a rural area near Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province, showcasing its rural revitalization efforts in 2022.

A Model for Rural China? Why Zhangjiakou’s Agricultural Reforms Matter Now

This week, Zhangjiakou’s ambitious rural revitalisation drive takes centre stage in China’s ongoing battle to consolidate the gains of its poverty alleviation (脱贫攻坚) campaign. As reported in Hebei Daily, the city’s multi-pronged approach—enhancing agricultural productivity, securing employment for rural communities, and expanding specialised industries—aligns with Beijing’s broader goal of ensuring food security and rural economic stability. But will these measures be enough to prevent rural stagnation, or are they just another state-driven showcase?

February marks the five-year anniversary of China’s declaration that it had eradicated extreme poverty—a milestone Xi Jinping heralded as a historic victory. Yet, as economic pressures mount, the risk of rural regression looms. Official narratives continue to stress the need to ‘consolidate and expand’ (巩固拓展) on these achievements, but questions remain over whether such consolidation is sustainable. Zhangjiakou’s latest efforts encapsulate this imperative by tackling rural employment, introducing cutting-edge agricultural techniques, and transforming previously unproductive land.

Zhangjiakou’s agricultural policies also reflect a growing emphasis on sustainability. The city’s “volcanic” strawberries (火山草莓), grown in smart greenhouses using soilless cultivation, exemplify China’s push for high-tech, resource-efficient farming. Meanwhile, its efforts to reclaim and cultivate saline-alkali land—turning once-barren fields into thriving quinoa and sunflower farms—showcase a scientific approach to maximising arable land use. Yet, these projects often rely on heavy government subsidies and advanced infrastructure. Can such innovations be applied broadly, or will they remain isolated examples of success?

Equally pressing is the challenge of preventing rural backsliding. One of the key concerns post-extreme poverty eradication is the risk of economic relapse, particularly in regions where employment opportunities remain scarce. Zhangjiakou’s initiatives, including new food processing plants and industrial clusters, aim to create stable, long-term employment rather than relying on short-term aid. The figures speak for themselves: over 26,000 people from formerly impoverished backgrounds secured work last year, reinforcing the city’s role as a proving ground for China’s post-poverty economic model. However, these employment figures often depend on government-led projects—raising the question of whether private sector investment and organic rural economic growth can take hold in the long run.

This reflects a broader trend in China’s economic strategy—rural revitalisation as an economic necessity. With urban economies facing slowing growth and a shrinking labour force, Beijing is under pressure to turn the countryside into a new engine of productivity. The focus on boosting agricultural supply chains, expanding e-commerce platforms, and integrating rural industries into national markets is an indication that China’s leadership sees rural prosperity as integral to overall economic stability. But will state-led interventions be enough, or is there a deeper structural shift required?

With China’s annual “Two Sessions” (两会) political meetings on the horizon in early March, rural revitalisation is poised to be a focal point of policy discussions. The Zhangjiakou model—leveraging technology, infrastructure investment, and employment-driven initiatives—could well serve as a template for other regions. Yet, its long-term success will depend on whether these reforms foster genuine, self-sustaining growth or remain a state-backed anomaly in a landscape still struggling with deep-seated economic and social fractures.

The China-Israel (Jiuquan) Green Eco-Industry Park (中以（酒泉）绿色生态产业园) in Gansu Province.

Desert Pioneers: How Israeli Technology is Transforming China’s Gobi Agriculture

For decades, the barren, windswept, and seemingly inhospitable Gobi Desert was no place for farming. But in Jiuquan, Gansu, an agricultural revolution is underway. Once reliant on hardy winter staples like potatoes and cabbage, the region now exports premium fruits and vegetables to global markets, thanks to cutting-edge Israeli technology.

At the centre of this transformation is the China-Israel (Jiuquan) Green Eco-Industry Park (中以（酒泉）绿色生态产业园), a 40,000-mu (2,667-hectare) agricultural hub where Israeli drip irrigation (膜下滴灌) and hydroponic farming (无土栽培) have turned parched land into fertile ground. By precisely controlling water and fertiliser through advanced irrigation systems, local farmers have cut water usage by 40% while increasing yields tenfold.

Jiuquan is no longer a remote outpost but a testbed for some of the world’s most sophisticated desert farming technologies. Climate-controlled tunnels, high-tech greenhouses, and soil-free cultivation methods have made the impossible routine: Italian grapes, Japanese peppers, and British melons now flourish in the dry northwest.

But this collaboration is about more than innovation—it’s about food security. As China seeks to reduce its reliance on food imports, projects like this offer a blueprint for sustainable agriculture in arid regions. By 2030, Jiuquan aims to become northwest China’s largest and most advanced green farming hub, a living testament to how two desert regions—one in the Middle East, the other in Asia—are redefining the future of agriculture.

In the unforgiving sands of the Gobi, the next chapter of global farming is being written—one precision-irrigated greenhouse at a time.

Between Mountains and Waters - Photo of the Week for 28 February 2025

A Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird in Shangri-La

A Mrs. Gould’s sunbird (Aethopyga gouldiae) clings to a branch in Shangri-La, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Small but striking, its iridescent feathers catch the light—a sharp contrast to the stillness of the high-altitude landscape.

From 22-24 February 2025, Shangri-La hosted the 7th Winter International Bird Watching Festival, drawing birders and conservationists to this rugged corner of southwest China. The event featured a bird-watching competition, an ecological conservation exhibition, and a seminar on local biodiversity.

Photo by Yang Tao, February 23, 2025.