Smart Seedling Cultivation Revitalises Rural Industry in Gansu

LANZHOU, June 6 — Modern smart agricultural technologies are driving industrial upgrading and rural revitalisation in Gulang County, Wuwei City, Gansu Province, where intelligent greenhouse seedling cultivation has developed into a robust pillar industry for local income growth. Xinhua News Agency reports that advanced automated farming systems have revolutionised traditional vegetable seedling breeding, forming a complete industrial chain that benefits local farmers and boosts regional agricultural development.

The Yinong Vegetable Seedling Centre in Yongfengtan Town stands as a leading local agricultural hub. Equipped with intelligent temperature control devices and integrated water and fertiliser spraying systems, the facility enables round-the-clock precision management of seedling growth environments. Scientific and intelligent cultivation models have eliminated the limitations of traditional farming methods, supporting large-scale, standardised and high-efficiency seedling production.

Covering more than 25,000 square metres, the seedling centre delivers stable annual output of over 100 million vegetable seedlings, with two to three cultivation batches completed each year. The facility breeds more than ten popular vegetable and fruit varieties, including baby cabbage, cabbage, bamboo shoots, cauliflower, chilli and watermelon, supplying high-quality seedlings for Gulang County and surrounding agricultural regions. A further six greenhouses are scheduled for construction within the year, lifting the annual seedling capacity to over 150 million.

High-quality locally bred seedlings have laid a solid foundation for large-scale commercial planting. Local villagers have expanded cultivation by contracting idle rural land, growing baby cabbage and carrots with adaptive seedling varieties that feature strong cold resistance and disease tolerance. The well-suited crops deliver stable and reliable economic returns under regional soil and climate conditions.

Large-scale planting has stimulated local employment and income growth. More than 50 local residents take part in daily field management including weeding and fertilising, with stable daily wages effectively expanding household revenue sources. Current crop growth conditions indicate promising economic returns, bringing tangible benefits to rural families and achieving coordinated progress in industrial development and people’s livelihood improvement.

Local authorities have optimised agricultural industrial layout to amplify developmental advantages. Following a targeted development strategy, Gulang County has built three distinctive industrial belts for plateau summer vegetables, green field vegetables and fine fruits and vegetables, promoting differentiated, large-scale and intensive industrial growth. In 2025, the output value of the county’s fruit and vegetable industries exceeded 2 billion yuan.

Supported by intelligent seedling technology, the county’s fruit and vegetable planting area reaches 159,300 mu this year. The sector is expected to yield a total output of 750,000 tonnes and an annual output value of 2.2 billion yuan, with average household income of local growers rising steadily. The systematic seedling industry activates rural resources, consolidates the foundation for farmers’ income growth and continuously fuels high-quality rural revitalisation across the region.