The Report illustrates that digital agriculture and smart agricultural mechanization technologies can remarkably improve operations in agricultural production. It can help achieve more precise farm operations in seeding, fertilization and pesticides-spraying, reducing food loss, facilitating harvesting and sowing in a timely fashion, conserving energy and reducing carbon emissions, as well as tackling the problem of shortage of the agricultural workforce. Digital agriculture and smart mechanization can substantially enhance agricultural productivity, improve output, and optimize the utilization of natural resources.

The Report also highlights the important role of digital technology that can not only bring about significant transformative changes in agricultural production, but also catalyze agricultural value chain development through adoption of digitally-enabled business models and patterns such as e-commerce which have been a new engine for the rural economy. Moreover, the Report notes the rapid expansion and momentum of digitalized financial services including digital financing, digital insurance and credit for the benefit of the rural population, particularly, for smallholder farmers.

‘The Sci-Tech Empowering Rural Transformation Report 2022: Digital Technology Empowers Agricultural Value Chain Development Report’ is the first publication of the series ‘Thematic Study and Knowledge Sharing in the Subject of Sci-Tech Empowering Rural Transformation’ which is jointly initiated by ESCAP-CSAM, FAO Representation in China, IFAD China Office, WFP China, and CIIC. The Report is compiled through joint efforts of CIIC, FAO Representation in China, IFAD China Office, WFP China Centre of Excellence, ESCAP-CSAM, and other partners in China including AliResearch and the Chinese Academy of Financial Inclusion.