CRI听力:China to further develop "Internet Plus Agriculture" model: official

Chinese authorities have unveiled plans to try to further develop its "Internet Plus Agriculture" model to help the primary, secondary and tertiary industries in rural areas.

Qu Dongyu, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, says the e-commerce sector is already booming in rural areas thanks to the "Internet Plus Agriculture" model.

"By the end of 2017, 756 counties across the country have become models for conducting e-commerce in rural areas. In 2017, online retail sales in rural areas totaled 1.25 trillion yuan, or nearly 190 billion U.S. dollars, of which sales of agricultural products approached 300 billion yuan. More than 28 million jobs were created as a result," says Qu.

One of the top priorities is to use information technology in the distribution of agricultural products.

"A guideline will be released on widening the agricultural products' circulation, and issues of connecting the production and marketing process will also be solved. We will take measures to ensure that agricultural products are safe and of high quality. Support facilities such as processing, packaging, storage, preservation and cold chain logistics will be strengthened to try to improve the farm produce's marketability and resolve the underpricing of quality products," says Qu.

Information technologies, including big data, the Internet of Things and cloud computing, will be harnessed to try to create more efficient, digitized and smart agricultural production.

Internet infrastructure in rural areas will also be improved, and agriculture-related public information and service platforms will be established as well.

Farmers will also receive training on how to better use information technology, with authorities saying their smart phones can become their new farm implements.

Zong Jinyao, chief of agricultural product processing with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, says agriculture and other rural industries will be developed in an integrated way.

"Focusing on developing modern agriculture, the primary, secondary and tertiary industries in an integrated way, we will encourage the development of planting, breeding, processing, circulation, tourism, e-commerce, medical care, and health preserving industries, building an industrial system to make those industries thriving in rural areas," says Zong.

To that end, private companies are also going to be given incentives to develop new internet-based business models which benefit farmers.

This may also include the encouragement of mass entrepreneurship and innovation in rural areas through more specific programs.