After nearly two years working in Jiayu county, Hubei province, agricultural scientist Liu Zhixiong has learned that answers often come more readily in the field than in an office setting.

"In the office, all you can think about are problems. But in the field, there are always solutions," said Liu, an associate researcher at the Institute of Economic Crops of the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Dispatched to Jiayu under a program that sends scientists and technical specialists to support local agriculture, Liu spends four to eight hours a day among rows of vegetables, checking crops and guiding field management with digital tools.

His work is aimed at selecting the varieties that suit local cultivation conditions, improving the quality of produce and promoting these varieties to local farmers.

After visiting eight townships in the county, Liu and his team found several obstacles. Local farmers relied heavily on past experience in planting practices, often using excessive amounts of water and fertilizer that resulted in wasted resources and affected quality.

Limited crop differentiation and low levels of mechanization also held back the vegetable-growing sector, he said, adding that his duty is to identify problems facing local agriculture and help farmers find practical solutions.

Working with research institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the team established a vegetable science and technology demonstration park covering more than 500 mu (33.33 hectares).

The park uses digital tools to improve crop management and quality, and has introduced 3,000 new vegetable varieties such as wax gourds, pumpkins, cowpeas, celery and cabbage, with over 100 selected for their good quality.

For Liu, the aim is to develop methods farmers can adopt, helping Jiayu produce vegetables of consistent quality and build a stronger local brand.

Winning farmers' trust requires more than mere suggestions, he said.

"You can talk as much as you like, but what matters is working alongside them," he said.

The park leases land from local farmers and also employs them. Researchers guide the technical work, while farmers take part in planting and crop management. That allows them to see how the methods differ and compare the results.

For example, Liu said, cabbage grown at the park last year using improved cultivation and pest management methods sold for about 20 percent above market price.

When farmers see better returns, he said, they start asking how to achieve them.

That lesson is familiar to Fu Qingju, a senior agro-technician at the agricultural technology promotion center in Gucheng county, Hubei. The 58-year-old has spent 38 years helping farmers improve production.

"You need to show farmers how it works, and work with them," Fu said.

Agricultural technicians turn research into practice, diagnose problems in the field and train farmers, she said, adding that their job is to help tillers of the land understand new techniques and put them to practical use.

Wang Dongmei, an official with the provincial science and technology department, said Hubei has organized 117 teams, established 1,144 service stations and assigned more than 13,000 agricultural sci-tech experts this year to provide training to more than 10,000 technicians across nearly 100 counties.

Speaking of the role of science and technology in modern agricultural development, Liu said consumers increasingly expect better flavor and higher quality in agricultural products, which requires scientific and technological support.

And growing high-quality products requires clear standards for fertilizer use, pesticide use and other farming practices, Liu said, adding that technology plays an important role in helping build local brands.

Fu said she is glad to see more young agricultural sci-tech talent who understand molecular breeding and digital technology working closely with farmers.

Fu believes that as technology continues to advance, the spirit of taking root in the soil and serving farmers still needs to be carried forward.

Their ultimate mission is to understand agriculture, love rural areas and have a reverential respect for those who ultimately produce our food, she added.

(Source: China Daily)