Zhou Di, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, president of the research institute at Zhejiang-based Uniview, and a professor at Hangzhou Dianzi University, has been focusing on how digital technologies can support agricultural development.

During field research, Zhou found that key farmland water conservancy facilities, including agricultural wells and irrigation pumping stations, often face challenges such as strong emphasis on construction but insufficient management and weak long-term operational capacity.

These facilities form the backbone of farmland irrigation networks, yet their efficiency and maintenance remain uneven in many rural areas.

Zhou has been examining how digital tools could help address these issues. He said the internet of things devices and long-term operation mechanisms could be introduced to improve the monitoring and management of agricultural infrastructure.

He also highlighted the role of policy-based financing and investment subsidies in supporting such upgrades. According to Zhou, combining digital technologies with professional operation systems could help activate existing infrastructure assets, provide specialized services, create local employment opportunities, and strengthen food security.

Zhou said smarter management of agricultural infrastructure would help ensure that digital agriculture benefits farmland more broadly.