It's the critical spring plowing season, and in many villages across my country's North China Plain, tractors can be seen bustling through the fields, becoming the main force for farmers to seize the harvest season and ensure grain production.
In Dongwang Town, Ningjin County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province, large-scale grain grower Wang Jianguo is driving a tractor through a wheat field, a rotary tiller attached to the rear plowing the soil until it's soft and smooth. "In the past, manually tilling 10 mu of land would have taken three or four days. Now, with a tractor, it can be done in half a day, saving a lot of effort." Wang Jianguo wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face beaming.
He explained that this year, his family's 50 mu of wheat, from irrigation and fertilization to plowing, relied on the tractor for the entire process, increasing efficiency by more than three times while also reducing labor costs. According to officials from the Ningjin County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, to ensure smooth spring plowing, local agricultural technicians conducted comprehensive inspections of farmers' tractors in advance, focusing on key components like the engine, transmission, and operating mechanism to ensure the equipment was in good working order. Furthermore, to address the lack of operating experience among some farmers, tractor operation training was provided, with over 200 farmers trained in over 20 administrative villages across the county.
"Currently, over 800 tractors are in use for spring plowing across the county, capable of plowing and sowing over 3,000 mu (approximately 1,000 acres) of land daily." The official stated that the widespread use of tractors has not only alleviated labor shortages during the spring plowing season but also promoted the transformation of local agricultural production towards mechanization and efficiency, laying a solid foundation for a bumper grain harvest throughout the year.
At the agricultural machinery service station next to the wheat fields, Li Haiqiang, the station manager, was busy allocating tractors for farmers. "Recently, more than a dozen farmers have been requesting agricultural machinery every day. We've formed 10 mobile service teams to provide 24/7 support." Li Haiqiang explained that the service station also offers a one-stop service. Farmers simply need to make an appointment in advance, and staff will arrange the appropriate tractor and operator based on the farmland's location and operational needs, greatly facilitating their work.
As autumn plowing progresses, the role of tractors in agricultural production is becoming increasingly prominent. Many farmers say that with the help of tractors, they are more confident in this year's spring plowing and are full of anticipation for a bountiful harvest.
