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China's farms embrace AI and drones to revolutionize agriculture by 2025

From pesticide-spraying drones in Jiangsu to AI robots in Xinjiang, China's high-tech farming boom is reshaping how food is grown. Can this model feed the future?

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2 min read
The image shows an aerial view of a large industrial area in the middle of a field, surrounded by...
The image shows an aerial view of a large industrial area in the middle of a field, surrounded by buildings, trees, plants, grass, roads, vehicles, poles, and water. At the bottom of the image, there is some text.

China's farms embrace AI and drones to revolutionize agriculture by 2025

China is speeding up the use of digital and smart technology in farming. Recent developments include drones spraying pesticides on fields in Jiangsu Province and AI-driven equipment being tested in Xinjiang. These changes are part of a broader push to modernise agriculture across the country.

A drone fitted with the BeiDou navigation system was recently used on a farm in Hai'an, Jiangsu Province, to apply pesticides. This is just one example of how advanced tools are now reaching farmers. By 2025, China's agricultural drone fleet had grown to over 300,000 units—the largest in the world—with 251,000 of these being plant protection drones. Together, they covered an area of 2.67 billion mu (178 million hectares).

The cost of these drones has fallen, making them more affordable for farmers. This trend aligns with China's goal to make AI and other high-tech solutions economically viable for widespread use. Over the past five years (2021–2026), the adoption of AI-powered harvesters, such as smart picking robots and laser weeding machines, has surged. The market for these technologies has grown by more than 30% annually, supported by government initiatives like *Made in China 2025*. Regions like Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Sichuan were among the first to test these innovations. Pilot projects on rice fields and fruit orchards began as early as 2021. Meanwhile, in Hami Prefecture, Xinjiang, AI is now being integrated into daily farming operations. The result is a steady increase in efficiency, with the contribution rate of agricultural tech progress reaching 64% in 2025.

Smart farming equipment, from drones to AI-controlled robots, is now more accessible to Chinese farmers. The rapid expansion of these technologies reflects a shift toward digital and intelligent agriculture. With continued investment and lower costs, their use is expected to grow further in the coming years.

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