Young delegates from SCO countries like Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Iran convened at the Dryland Water-saving Agriculture Research Institute of Northwest A&F University on June 12. Their focus: exploring essential dryland agriculture technologies and breakthroughs in dryland water-saving methods in Yangling, Shaanxi province, Northwest China.

During their visit to the Research Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Areas at Northwest A&F University, 16 representatives delved into the cutting-edge technology and equipment employed for dryland water-saving practices in Yangling.

The institute, a multidisciplinary research hub and collaborative platform by Northwest A&F University, aims to tackle agricultural challenges in arid regions, ensuring national food security and water resources while fostering sustainable agricultural development in arid and semi-arid zones.

With six national and provincial-level research bases, including the National Engineering Laboratory and the Key Laboratory of Crop Efficient Water Use under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the institute leads in dryland water-saving technology, irrigation efficiency, smart water-saving solutions, and agricultural water resource management.

Xu Jinghui, vice president of the Research Institute and deputy director of the National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Water Use of Crops in Arid Areas, highlighted innovative approaches like water footprint analysis, drone technology for automated irrigation, and agricultural technology innovations to enhance resilience.

Dr. Liu Xufei, from the Key Laboratory of Crop Efficient Water Use, demonstrated the operation of intelligent irrigation robots, emphasizing their role in enhancing sprinkler irrigation accuracy and water and fertilizer efficiency for precise, efficient, and water-saving farmland irrigation management.

The visit left Central and Western Asian representatives eager for agricultural collaboration with China. Yeliya from Kyrgyzstan expressed excitement over new agricultural insights gained, envisioning these advancements benefiting her country.

This experience not only showcased Chinese agricultural technology to SCO youth but also paved the way for agricultural cooperation between SCO countries and China through advanced water-saving technologies.