Harvesters are seen in a paddy field in Shizong town, Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The large-scale processing equipment for rice in an agricultural enterprise in Shizong town. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Shizong town in Tongzhou district in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, has in recent years made strides in developing its rice industry.

The town currently has 106,000 mu (7,067 hectares) of high-quality farmland, including 70,000 mu that has been set aside for rice cultivation.

The cultivated area of high-quality rice varieties, including Nangeng No 5,055, Nangeng No 9,018 and Nangeng No 46, now stands at 60,000 mu, accounting for 85.7 percent of the rice farmland in Tongzhou.

This year, the town has spent 3.2 million yuan ($450,010) to introduce agricultural machinery to improve the efficiency of rice harvesting.

At present, the mechanization rate for rice and wheat cultivation stands at 95 percent.

The town now has a complete rice industrial chain that spans rice production, processing, and sales.

A rice culture museum has also been established in the town to promote rice culture and advanced agricultural technology.