In 2021, the cooperative in Kengshang village, which is administered by Xixi'nan town in Huizhou district, Huangshan city, gathered 170 mu (11.33 hectares) of high-quality tea gardens and asked experts for suggestions on planting, management and product processing.
Currently, a digital platform that includes high-definition network cameras, solar pest control lamps, and intelligent watering system has covered the 170-mu tea garden and radically improved tea growers' work efficiency and incomes.
A view of the intelligent solar lamps used for pest control in Kengshang village, Huangshan. [Photo/xuexi.cn]
"The platform collects and analyzes information – including temperature and humidity – which allows growers to get real-time information on their devices," said Chen Wei, project manager at China Mobile, Huizhou district branch. The district branch developed the system for the local tea gardens.
Chen added that the platform also promotes the sales and the technologies improve production and quality while also making the whole process traceable, which makes consumers more positive about these tea products.
"The platform reduces costs and saves resources. For example, it can provide accurate amounts of water and fertilizer for seedlings with nozzles and help them grow in the most suitable environment," said Bao Zhiguo, Party secretary of Kengshang village.
Kengshang village currently owns 2,400 mu of tea gradens. The development of intelligent tea gardens has provided over 200 jobs for local farmers and increased the village cooperative's income to 947,300 yuan ($137,855.17) last year.