Do farmers of different scales share the same needs for wheat field management? How can sustainable grain yield increases be maintained? To understand the real demands and core challenges of various farming operators in transitioning to smart agriculture, the "Wheat Field Smart Farming" student entrepreneurship team from Nanjing Agricultural University recently conducted field research in Suqian, Huai'an, and Xuzhou, offering technical services for intelligent wheat cultivation.
**Large Farms Prioritize Efficiency, Small Farms Seek Affordability** In Tianhe Village, Wangji Town, Suining County, Xuzhou, the team visited wheat demonstration fields and cooperative agricultural machinery facilities, gaining firsthand insight into the hardware infrastructure for large-scale farming. They then engaged with local farmers at community service centers in Dawu Village and Guangming Community.
The team discovered divergent service needs for smart field management among farmers of different scales. Large-scale farmers typically adopt uniform management practices, such as applying pesticides three times per season, which often conflicts with actual soil and crop conditions. These farmers strongly desire customized, reliable services. "Large-scale operators are no longer solely focused on yields but increasingly on risk control, showing strong willingness to pay for long-term value," said team member Lian Yifan, a sophomore at Nanjing Agricultural University.
In contrast, small-scale farmers struggle with being "marginalized." "No one guides us on technology, and we can’t use it effectively," said Wu Xinzhang, a farmer in Dawu Village. Smallholders crave equal access to technology but remain highly price-sensitive. A team member noted, "Promoting smart agriculture must cater to large farms seeking efficiency while exploring affordable solutions for smallholders."
A cautionary tale shared by Li Guangsheng, a farmer in Wangji Town, highlighted the risks of neglecting sustainability. His demonstration field achieved high yields in the first year but at the cost of soil degradation, rendering subsequent cultivation unsustainable. This case underscored the imperative of prioritizing soil health and sustainability in new technology adoption.
**Leveraging "Leading Goose" Farmers for Effective Promotion** At a symposium with Huai'an Chadong Green Food Co., Ltd., farmer Zhang Rongxing proposed a "three-point, one-area" promotion strategy, inspiring the team. "New technologies don’t need forced adoption. The key is to first help one farmer succeed, creating a visible 'leading goose' effect that naturally attracts others," Zhang explained.
Team leader Zhang Meiqi, a junior at Nanjing Agricultural University’s College of Agriculture, emphasized that smart agriculture requires not only robust technology but also self-sustaining promotion models. "By building sustainable demonstrations and leveraging influential 'leading goose' farmers, alongside corporate channels and market forces, we can ensure farmers truly benefit from increased yields and incomes."
Professor Cao Qiang, the team’s advisor, outlined a development path centered on "tiered services, demonstration leadership, and value closure." For large-scale farmers, data-driven "smart steward" services integrating remote sensing, smart irrigation, and precision pesticide application can systematically reduce risks and costs. For smallholders, lightweight, inclusive "technology toolkits" via mobile apps or SMS can provide farming alerts, simple fertilization plans, and weather warnings.
Chen Hongbing, head of Huai'an Hongze Chadong Green Food Co., Ltd., expressed optimism about the team’s smart farming services. He suggested showcasing dual benefits in yield growth and soil conservation to spur the "leading goose" effect. By integrating "technology + inputs + sales" and collaborating with supply chain partners, innovative business models linking smart solutions with premium crop purchases could be explored.
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