The MARA unveiled a plan for China’s agricultural mechanization for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) on Dec. 27, 2021. 

The MARA set a series of quantitative objectives for the agriculture sector to be achieved by 2025, which include securing total power of agricultural machinery nationwide by around 1.1 billion kW; 75% mechanized operation in ploughing, planting and harvesting; full mechanized operation in major production counties (cities or districts) for grains, cotton, oilseeds and sugar; 55% mechanized operation in ploughing, planting and harvesting in hilly and mountainous counties (cities or districts); and 50% mechanized operation in sub-sectors of protected agriculture, livestock, aquaculture and primary processing of agricultural produce. 

The Plan highlights that agricultural development in China has shifted from a heavy dependence on human and animal labor to large-scale use of machinery, thus entering a new stage of agricultural mechanization. During the 14^th Five-year Plan period, greater efforts are required to facilitate supply-side structural reform in support of agricultural mechanization to close gaps, shore up weak links and increase synergies.  

The Plan also identifies agronomic systems, smart IT, farming practices and farmland development to be incorporated into the drive of agricultural mechanization. The MARA encourages industrial clusters and the fostering of industrial chains related to agricultural mechanization.   

The Plan also stresses the importance of  policy support, market-based principle, innovation-driven and balanced development, and systematic planning in the advancement of agricultural mechanization.