A group of farmers at a family farm in Duntou town undergo a training course on how to operate drones to protect their plants on Feb 24. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Drones took the skies at a family farm in Duntou town in Hai'an – a county-level city administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province – when farmers had a field training course on Feb 24 on operating UAVs, or unmanned aerial vehicles, to protect their plants.

Through theoretical study, practice and on-site tests, the farmers' capability to pilot UAVs will be further enhanced, which it's believed will help boost the development of smart agriculture.

China's authorities on Feb 21 released the official document on agricultural affairs for 2021, the "No 1 central document" which stressed the importance of efforts needed to comprehensively push forward rural vitalization and accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

Agricultural mechanization and machinery are seen as an important basis for transforming the development modes of agriculture and improving rural productivity – and also providing strong support for the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy.

The unveiling of the document is expected to greatly increase the motivation of farmers to farm in a scientific way. Many have already bought plant protection UAVs and have participated in training sessions.

"I read the 'No 1 central document' several times as soon as it came out," said Lu Hua, a family farm owner in Duntou town. "I'm so happy that our country will provide more support for farmers."