In late October, the chill of northern Shaanxi is palpable. In Yanjiagou Village, Ganquan County, a farmer named Liu Yongbing is busy operating a “smart agriculture integrated water and fertilizer machine” from the comfort of his smartphone, remotely watering two greenhouses full of cucumbers.
“The greenhouses are part of a thousand-acre integrated agricultural demonstration park in our village. With the installed pipeline system, I can control the watering, spraying of pesticides, fertilization, and even the rolling up of covers right from my phone. I can also monitor the temperature and humidity inside the greenhouses at any time,” Liu explained enthusiastically about the concept of “finger-tip farming.”
Historically, this area of the Loess Plateau is rich in culture but faced severe environmental challenges. Liu recalls, “When I was a child, there were very few plants in the gullies. When the wind blew, the dust made it hard to see.” His family’s livelihood depended on tobacco farming, which barely brought in any income.
In 1999, the region began a large-scale afforestation initiative. With ongoing efforts in planting trees and protecting natural forests to combat soil erosion, the once barren landscape has transformed into a lush green environment. Liu noted, “Since the reforestation efforts began, Ganquan County’s forest coverage rate has increased from 36.5% to 76.84%. This has significantly changed the agricultural landscape, introducing practices like under-forest livestock farming and greenhouse vegetable cultivation, which are benefits of ecological development.”
According to Shi Lei, the director of the Reforestation Office in Ganquan County, “In 2023, the average disposable income for rural residents reached 15,864 yuan.” To further promote rural revitalization and enhance community income, the area capitalized on the internationally recognized Ganquan Grand Canyon, adopting a model that integrates “agriculture, specialties, and tourism.” This created a robust link between the agricultural sector and tourism, exemplified by the thousand-acre integrated agricultural demonstration park in Yanjiagou Village, which features over 400 greenhouses. The park facilitates seasonal fruit picking, photo opportunities, canyon tourism, and provides lodging services, generating an annual output value of 26 million yuan and creating over 300 jobs.
During a visit, I saw that the park is divided into four areas: a picking garden, a vineyard, an agricultural product logistics center, and a sunshine rose-themed hotel. The neatly arranged greenhouses with their red roofs and yellow walls create an organized atmosphere, with an intricate network of piping both in the air and on the ground.
Liu shared how automation has changed his work routine: “With automatic monitoring, the vents close when it gets too cold and open when it gets too hot, saving a lot of labor. In the past, spraying pesticides took two hours for one person; now, with ‘finger-tip farming,’ it takes less than 10 minutes.” He added that watering is now much easier; instead of laboriously watering each row, he prepares the mixture of pesticides, water, and fertilizer, and the smart system at the entrance takes care of the rest, finishing the job in just over half an hour.
Reflecting on his income, Liu expressed gratitude: “The smart machine was funded by the local government and installed for free. At my age, farming at home is much better than working away. I can earn about 100,000 yuan a year from my two greenhouses. Most people my age in the village have chosen to stay and farm rather than leave for work elsewhere.”
Li Bo, deputy director of the Agricultural and Rural Bureau of Ganquan County, explained that the smart agriculture system was implemented in 2021. Currently, all six agricultural parks in the county utilize this technology, funded entirely by the government. Looking ahead, the smart agriculture system will continue to expand in Ganquan County, benefitting more farmers with the convenience of “finger-tip farming.”
