In a recent interview, farmer Yao Hongtian from Gaojiacun, Chang’an Town in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang Province, shared his insights on the harvest season. “This year, we planted 330 acres of rice, and with several harvesters working simultaneously, we managed to complete the entire harvest in just three days,” he noted. The machinery not only saved time but also reduced labor intensity, enhancing overall efficiency.
As we walked through the expansive fields filled with the fragrant scent of rice, it was evident that mechanization has become a hallmark of modern agriculture. The sight of various agricultural machines—seeders, sprayers, and harvesters—operating simultaneously paints a vivid picture of the mechanization trend taking root in Jiamusi, which is recognized as a key agricultural base in China’s Sanjiang Plain.
The city boasts a significant number of agricultural machines, with approximately 457,000 registered devices, including tractors, seeders, and harvesters. This impressive figure translates to an agricultural mechanization rate of 99.12%, positioning Jiamusi as one of the earliest and most developed regions for agricultural machinery application and manufacturing in China.
Historically, Jiamusi has made notable contributions to agricultural machinery. The first wheeled tractor in New China was produced here in 1958. Over the decades, the industry has seen tremendous progress, evolving from simple equipment to high-end intelligent machinery. The product range now includes over 80 models from seven categories, catering to the national market.
In a significant advancement, Jiamusi Research and Technology Co., in collaboration with the Heilongjiang Agricultural Machinery Engineering Research Institute, launched the first large-scale high-end intelligent fresh corn harvester in September 2023, breaking foreign monopolies in the field and filling a void in domestic capabilities.
Moreover, Jiamusi Jichi Tractor Manufacturing Co. is focusing on new energy initiatives, working with universities to develop a 50-horsepower pure electric tractor and a 300-horsepower hybrid model. The hybrid prototype is already completed, while production of corn grain harvesters is underway, with plans for the electric prototype to be finalized by 2025.
The direction of Jiamusi’s agricultural machinery industry is clear: it aims for high-end, intelligent, and environmentally friendly development. “This harvester has excellent performance,” remarked local farmer Zhao Wei from Jixi City. “The adjustable ear-picking plate has improved flexibility, and the loss rate of corn cobs is extremely low. It’s really impressive.”
This past August, the 2024 Jiamusi Agricultural Machinery Expo welcomed numerous farmers and businesses with machinery purchasing needs, showcasing Jiamusi’s role as a hub for agricultural machinery exhibitions. As the largest agricultural machinery market in eastern Heilongjiang, it accounts for over 50% of the province’s total agricultural machinery sales. With 49 agricultural machinery companies in the city, Jiamusi achieved a production value of 1.56 billion RMB from January to August.
With the roar of machinery echoing across the fields, a new agricultural landscape is unfolding in Jiamusi. The city is committed to integrating agricultural modernization with the agricultural machinery industry, emerging as a “Northern Agricultural Machinery City” with vast potential for growth.
