A fish pond built based on digital technologies in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/hz66.com]

Huzhou has been playing a leading role in the modernization of agriculture and rural areas in East China's Zhejiang province.

Official statistics show that the added value of the city's agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishing industries reached 15.81 billion yuan ($2.43 billion) in 2021, up 3 percent year-on-year.

The growth rate was the second fastest in Zhejiang. Animal husbandry and fishing are the two main engines fueling the growth.

Huzhou Hongxin Ecological Agriculture Technology Co Ltd is a microcosm of the city's digitalization transformation in fishing.

Li Xiaobin, who has been involved in fishing for 20 years and is general manager of the company, didn't expect that internet technologies would reshape his work.

Based on analysis of big data, he can monitor and adjust the situation in ponds in real time, including the amount of dissolved oxygen and water temperature, to what is most suitable for fish growth.

The digital transformation has resulted in increased output. According to Li, the output of fish ponds contracted by him increased from 1 to 2 kilograms to 40 to 50 kilograms per cubic meter on a yearly basis.