China's smart farm tools win over global users

A self-driving harvester and a grain transport vehicle work in wheat fields at an unmanned farm demonstration base in Jiaoqiao town, Zouping, a county-level city administered by Binzhou, east China's Shandong Province, June 11, 2026. (Photo/Dong Naide)

The efficient performance of China's advanced agricultural machinery attracted widespread attention on social media at home and abroad during this year's summer farming season. Videos of the wheat harvest in major production areas such as Henan and Shandong provinces went viral, winning praise for China's new farm tools from viewers around the world.

In the early morning at smart agriculture demonstration zones in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, farmers need only tap a screen to set parameters. Rice transplanters then follow planned routes on their own, using the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System to precisely control row spacing, plant spacing and transplanting depth.

In wheat fields in Suixian county, Shangqiu city, central China's Henan Province, smart irrigation robots move autonomously along preset routes, detect soil moisture levels and spray water and fertilizer evenly onto wheat roots as needed.

These scenes offer a glimpse into how agricultural mechanization is evolving in China. Farmers can now check soil moisture in real time on digital screens and dispatch machinery and track operations through mobile apps, while Internet of Things (IoT) devices measure temperature and humidity.

China's agricultural modernization has continued to advance in recent years. The contribution rate of agricultural science and technology exceeded 64 percent in 2025, while the overall mechanization rate for crop planting and harvesting reached 76.7 percent.

The rapid growth of China's agricultural machinery industry has been driven by strong policy support.

Policy measures have built a support system for intelligent agricultural machinery covering everything from R&D to application, giving modern agriculture a powerful boost.

A staff member operates a harvester in rice fields at a grain industry demonstration base in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 23, 2026. (Photo/Li Hanchi)

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs released an action plan in October 2024 calling for continued innovation in intelligent agricultural machinery and the adoption of precision operations in large-scale farming, including precision land preparation, sowing, variable-rate pesticide application, fertilization and irrigation, along with cutting losses in harvesting, transportation and storage. The plan also calls for better use of crop straw.

Chinese companies have ramped up R&D investment to develop intelligent agricultural machinery in recent years. Many can now produce intelligent tractors, drone spraying systems and other equipment with their own intellectual property, and domestic production increasingly covers everything from components to complete machines.

The intelligent transformation of agricultural machinery reflects how the digital economy and smart manufacturing are being applied in agriculture. Companies from sectors such as construction machinery, automotive manufacturing and electronics are expanding into agricultural machinery, and this cross-industry collaboration is speeding up technological innovation while strengthening the industry as a whole.

Operators are also receiving more training to help them get the most out of the new machines.

Across China, efforts have been made to improve technical training, after-sales services and maintenance systems based on the needs of major industries and farmers. These measures have lowered barriers to the adoption and operation of new agricultural machinery while cultivating a large team of skilled professionals who understand agricultural machinery and farming techniques, can manage operations and are capable of operating and repairing equipment.

China's agricultural machinery industry is rapidly expanding overseas.

Staff members operate a drone to transport citrus at an orchard in Dazhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 28, 2026. (Photo/Deng Liangkui)

China has more than 2,200 large-scale agricultural machinery manufacturers and produces over 4,500 types of agricultural machinery products. It is the only country in the world capable of manufacturing agricultural machinery across the full range of categories.

In recent years, Chinese agricultural machinery has made continuous breakthroughs in product quality, performance and efficiency, strengthening its global competitiveness and gaining increasing popularity in overseas markets.

In the first quarter of this year, China's imports and exports of agricultural machinery equipment and components totaled $6.28 billion, up 27.9 percent year on year. Exports reached $5.94 billion, an increase of 28.9 percent. The figures reflect the growing competitiveness of Chinese agricultural machinery in global markets.

Why are China's new farm tools so popular?

Industry insiders said that as global agricultural modernization accelerates, developing countries are seeing growing demand for agricultural machinery, especially efficient, intelligent and highly adaptable equipment.

China's agricultural machinery industry has made significant progress in technological innovation, with continuous improvements in product functions and performance earning recognition from more overseas customers. Today, Chinese agricultural machinery enterprises are moving beyond simple product exports and expanding toward a full-chain approach covering R&D adaptation, production capacity response and service support, using systematic capabilities to deepen their presence in overseas markets.

By the end of the first quarter of 2026, Chinese heavy machinery manufacturer Zoomlion had established more than 10 overseas factories, over 430 business outlets and more than 220 service and spare parts warehouses. This network enables the company to respond quickly to customer needs and strengthen its competitiveness in overseas markets.