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Work smarter: Innovation the key to economic evolution

By Patrick Whiteley (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-03-09 07:25

China's ancient farming system is undergoing vital modernization in a bid to boost the nation's long-term health. As a member of the World Trade Organisation, China must be globally competitive, especially with agriculture.

Small patches of land worked by ox-driven ploughs and the sweat of farmers are not efficient in 2007. Pictures of peasants toiling the soil are romantic images for travel magazine editors, however, like the ox's yoke, this outdated practice is holding back China's progress.

Large-scale farming involving modern equipment and new technology will make Chinese farms more productive and help improve the environment.

One smarter farming method being trialled in China is hydroponics. Plants are grown without soil and nutrients are added to sand, gravel or liquid to generate crops anywhere and anytime.

High-tech farming highlights the importance of education, not just for young people, but for farmers too.

Just north of Beijing is the village of Maxinzhuang, which features huge greenhouses, in which flowers and vegetables are being hydroponically grown. This is a snapshot of what can be achieved when world-best practice is applied to China's agriculture industry. This village, like many regions across the nation, has a long history of innovative farming.

The village was formed about 2000 years ago during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220) when a court official was ordered by the emperor to guard the border against the northern nomads.

The official, who was originally from Sichuan Province, also believed in the value of education.

He taught locals how to produce high-quality rice and the grain was of such a high standard it fed the Ming and Qing dynasties' imperial families in the Forbidden City for centuries.

Chinese farmers need to work smarter, not harder, and education is the age-old tool to get this job done.

When Confucius went to the State of Wei about 2,500 years ago he remarked: "What a large population Wei has!?"

His companion asked: "What should be done with such a large population?"

Confucious answered: "Enrich the people!"

The man went on asking: "What should be done when they have become rich?" Confucius answered: "Educate them!"

(China Daily 03/09/2007 page7)