By Yin Haodong & Cheng Yu, Research Department of Rural Economy, DRC; Xiao Rongmei, Huo Peng & Mu Tianqi, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT)

Research Report, No.153, 2020 (Total 5897) 2020-6-22

Abstract: The new opportunities brought about by digital technology to agriculture and rural areas have promoted the development of new industries, new business formats and new business models in rural areas as well as innovation-oriented supply of public services in rural areas. However, compared with urban areas, the relatively poor Internet facilities and services, the relatively slow industrial digital transformation and the sluggish cultivation system of digital skills have constrained the application of digital technology in agriculture and rural areas on a larger scale. The digital transformation of agriculture and rural areas is an inevitable trend in line with the changes of the times and this paper has thus proposed the following policy options. One, we need to make proper layout and strive to accelerate the construction of Internet facilities in rural areas and strengthen the weak links of digital facilities and services in rural areas; two, we need to enhance the development of new industries, new business format and new business models in rural areas so as to push ahead with the overall expansion of Internet from consumption sectors to production fields; three, we need to establish a system to popularize digital skills in rural areas in a bid to enable rural and urban areas to equally share the dividends brought about by digital transformation and make information technology revolution benefit agriculture, rural areas and farmers on a larger scale and in a fairer manner.

Keywords: digital transformation, digital technology, agriculture, rural areas