Now it is a critical period for seedling raising of early rice. Farmers in Hengshan County, Hengyang City have implemented green and efficient methods for spring ploughing and management. They have successfully transplanted rice seedlings from paddy fields to "factories". Thus rice seedling raising will no longer be affected by the weather.

In recent years, Hengshan County has promoted the application of factory seedling nursing, and provided policy, technology and financial support for agricultural enterprises and farmers' cooperatives. At present, a total of 10 factory seedling nursing bases have been built in the county, and the plantation area of rice seedlings cultivated in a single season can reach 10,000 mu (about 666 ha.).

An intelligent rice seedling raising base in Baiguo Town. (Photo/Dai Wei, China National Radio)

A farmer is carrying seedling trays at the production line of a seedling raising factory in Baiguo Town. (Photo/Dai Wei, China National Radio)

Villagers put seedling trays on an intelligent rice seedling seedbed. (Photo/Dai Wei, China National Radio)

Technicians provide instructions on pre-germination and rice seedling raising at an intelligent rice seedling raising base. (Photo/Dai Wei, China National Radio)

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: China National Radio