Agricultural Drones. Photo provided by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
In an interview held on October 25, 2023, in Tonglu, Hangzhou, the current momentum toward low-altitude economy innovation in agriculture was discussed. The province of Zhejiang, which has been at the forefront of agricultural reform in China, is now focusing on integrating low-altitude economic activities into its rural development strategies.
During the meeting, officials from Zhejiang expressed their commitment to leading the way in the development of low-altitude economies within agriculture and rural areas. They outlined five key strategies to harness this emerging economic frontier effectively.
Low-altitude economy refers to various aviation activities, including both manned and unmanned aircraft operations, which can stimulate the growth of related sectors. Industry estimates indicate that by 2023, China’s low-altitude economy had surpassed 500 billion yuan, with projections suggesting a contribution of up to 5 trillion yuan to the national economy by 2025.
However, as officials pointed out, there’s no universally accepted definition of the low-altitude economy in agriculture and rural sectors yet, reflecting the vast untapped potential that exists.
“Low-altitude operations can break the traditional constraints of time and space in agricultural activities, driving the creation of new industries, business formats, and models in rural areas. It represents an innovative, open, and inclusive economic form,” said Wang Tonglin, Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Office of Agriculture.
Zhejiang has been an early adopter of low-altitude economic practices, particularly within the agricultural sector. The use of agricultural drones for pest control began in 2007, and by the end of 2023, the province had deployed 6,847 agricultural UAVs, covering an area of 9.56 million mu for major crops like rice and wheat. The applications for crop protection and field management have matured significantly.
In addition to its early start, Zhejiang enjoys several advantages with its robust industrial foundation, supportive policies, and conducive development environment. For instance, in 2017, the province included agricultural drones in its agricultural machinery subsidy program, becoming one of the first pilot provinces in the country. Over the past three years, it has subsidized 3,891 agricultural drones, with some regions also launching incentive policies for aerial pest control services.
There’s a growing consensus that the advent of the low-altitude economy in agriculture will profoundly transform the landscape for farmers and rural development. This includes a shift from flat agricultural production to multi-dimensional spatial approaches and from limited governance to effective rural management.
Wang shared that the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is currently formulating an action plan for developing the low-altitude economy in agriculture. The plan aims to expand new infrastructure and applications related to “low-altitude + agriculture,” creating a vigorous ecosystem characterized by resource aggregation, extensive applications, efficient services, comprehensive systems, and daunting protections.
The five strategic focuses laid out include creating a forward-thinking top-level design, fostering diverse application ecosystems, building collaborative low-altitude supply chains, strengthening foundational infrastructure, and pooling resources for comprehensive support.
Regarding the application ecosystem, Wang highlighted that they will embed aerial operations into every aspect of agricultural production, extend their use into agricultural management, and explore new applications in other rural sectors. “We aim to enhance pilot projects and implement successful trials as we develop convenient village services, efficient village management, low-altitude consumption, disaster response, and shared public services,” he said.
Regarding developing a cohesive low-altitude supply chain, Zhejiang plans to collaborate on the research and manufacture of agricultural drones, better assess market demand for drone components, and integrate technologies like navigation, remote sensing, and data analytics into the agricultural low-altitude economy. They also plan to foster service industries related to aerial applications, establishing national education and training hubs for the low-altitude economy in agriculture.
The development of the agricultural low-altitude economy will also rely on strong foundational infrastructure. Going forward, Zhejiang aims to build quick-charging stations for drones in fields and forests, as well as centralized hubs for drone operations that handle take-offs, landings, charging, and storage. Additionally, the province will enhance departmental cooperations to set rural transport routes and develop tourism flight paths while addressing obstacles to low-altitude operations through systematic rural planning.
Finally, Wang noted that the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs plans to enhance policy support, such as increasing subsidies for social services related to agricultural drones, while focusing on training drone operators and attracting skilled labor through modern “new farmer” initiatives.
