ADB to help modernise agriculture in Yichang China

ADB will introduce new technologies and best practices, including advanced big data platforms to optimise agricultural production

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $200 million equivalent loan to spur rural green development in Yichang Municipality, Hubei Province in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

“The Hubei Yichang Rural Green Development Project will modernise Yichang’s agriculture sector in a smart, green, and sustainable manner,” said Alfredo Baño Leal ADB Senior Energy Specialist. “ADB will introduce new technologies and best practices, including advanced big data platforms to optimise agricultural production, as well as research that will help develop more climate-resilient agricultural products.”

Yichang is part of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), one of the three key economic growth engines in the PRC. Inefficient irrigation methods, monoculture crops, and outdated infrastructure have made traditional agriculture severely vulnerable to extreme weather events, including flooding and drought. The municipality has one of the most serious soil erosion problems in the PRC, aggravated by poor land management practices and seasonal high-intensity rainfall.

The project will increase crop productivity in Yichang and optimise the food supply chain through smart green agriculture while building capacity and creating additional skilled jobs. This includes innovative practices such as introducing climate-resilient crop varieties, adopting efficient fertigation systems, reducing food waste, supporting farm-to-market channels on digital platforms, and adding climate adaptation measures to reduce soil erosion and manage floods.

The project will also introduce distributed small-scale renewable energy in many locations to reduce the consumption of grid electricity—which is dominated by coal-fired power generation—and support climate change mitigation efforts. It will install agricultural waste management and water treatment systems and facilities in Yichang. Farmers and workers involved in small-scale agricultural activities will benefit from a cleaner rural environment and improved resilience of rural infrastructures.

ADB will introduce new technologies and best