An agricultural machine tends a farm field in Nantong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Jiangsu province's Nantong city saw a strong harvest last year with a total 3.43 million metric tons of grain output, 18,400 tons more than the previous year, according to local municipal bureau of agriculture and rural affairs.

The bureau attributed the bump harvest to high-quality farm fields, intelligent agricultural machines, and "new farmers".

Farm fields are the lifeblood of grain yield. In recent years, Nantong has stepped up efforts to develop high-quality farmland. Since 2016, the city has farmed 3.15 million mu (210,000 hectares) of such land, with plans to house another 2 million mu from establishment and renovation by 2025.

High-quality farmland makes mechanized and intelligent agriculture possible in Nantong. In 2022, the city pioneered full mechanization in agriculture production in Jiangsu. Statistics show that the city is currently home to over 6,000 intelligent agricultural machines, which have helped farm more than 5.2 million mu of land.

The availability of skilled talent is central to the success of rural vitalization. Nantong has seen a growing number of young people with new ideas and skills choosing to return home and take up agriculture, earning them the title of "new farmers".

One such example is Han Yumei, who transitioned from a career in news media to become a new farmer in Nantong. Influenced by her father, Han submitted her resignation and returned home to Yazhou to grow grain.

Recognizing that high-quality seeds are crucial to yielding high-quality rice, she sought cooperation with agricultural institutions and Yangzhou University to cultivate superior seeds.

Years of efforts have paid off. In 2023, Han's paddy fields yielded 650 kg of rice per mu, significantly passing regular output.