A Baotou commissioner guides farmers on the most optimal method to plant vegetables. [Photo/Baotou news network]

Baotou commissioners demonstrate artificial insemination technology, as herdsmen look on. [Photo/Baotou news network]

The Baotou bureau of science and technology – located in Baotou city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – is undertaking a new initiative to employ the latest science and technology, in order to improve productivity.

It has ordered agricultural science and technology commissioners to go to the front line of agricultural and animal husbandry production to help solve technical problems and to demonstrate and popularize new methods and advanced technologies – providing on-site training and guidance for farmers and herdsmen.

From March to end-May, Baotou sent out 904 commissioners to serve 17,993 farmers and herdsmen. The initiative has reportedly been widely welcomed by the beneficiaries.

During the same period, the bureau also carried out a raft of soybean and corn strip compound planting technology training for new business entities including major plantations and cooperatives in the region. Moreover, it has held five on-site demonstration and observation meetings about compound strip planting agricultural machinery.

In addition, the bureau has vigorously promoted new varieties of fruit trees, grapes and strawberries. It has guided fruit farmers and cooperatives to breed 150,000 seedlings with new varieties such as apple trees, plum trees, pear trees and apricot trees.

To date, the application rate of new technologies in the city's farms has reached 65 percent, benefiting 113 breeding cooperatives and more than 150,000 herdsmen.

Moving forwards, plans are for the city to speed up the promotion and application of new agricultural varieties and new technologies and make greater contributions to the vitalization of rural areas through science and technology.