中国农业信息通信技术（英文版）_81页_1mb

Summary of Information and Communication Technology for Agriculture in the People's Republic of China

Core Content

This document provides an analysis of the application and impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in agriculture and rural e-commerce in the People's Republic of China (PRC), focusing on trends, challenges, and policy recommendations. It is part of an Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded project aimed at promoting knowledge-intensive agriculture through ICT.

Main Views and Key Information

1. ICT Development in the PRC

• Rapid Growth: ICT has developed and been adopted rapidly in the PRC over the past decade, significantly influencing business development and economic growth.
• Internet Adoption: The rate of internet adoption in the PRC increased from 16% in 2007 to 55.8% in 2017, with urban areas (71%) having higher adoption than rural areas (35%).
• Mobile Phone Subscriptions: Mobile phone subscriptions in the PRC grew from 50.4 million in 2007 to 753 million in 2017, almost equaling the total number of internet users in 2017.
• E-Commerce Growth: E-commerce in the PRC has expanded rapidly, with online sales reaching 5,328.8 billion yuan in 2016, accounting for about 15% of the country's total retail value. The PRC is now the largest e-commerce market globally.

2. Rural E-Commerce Development

• Taobao Villages: These are notable e-commerce villages that have grown from 3 in 2009 to 2,118 in 2017. Most are located in coastal provinces.
• Survey Data: The China Center for Agricultural Policy (CCAP) conducted two survey rounds covering 1,128 households across seven provinces, providing insights into ICT usage and e-commerce development.
• ICT Usage by Farmers: In 2017, nearly 90% of adults had a cellphone, with 71% owning a smartphone. Smartphones are primarily used for social networking, news, video watching, shopping, and payments.
• E-Commerce Adoption: In 2016, 41% of surveyed villages had some farmers engaged in e-commerce, rising to 63% in 2017. However, only 3% of farmers were actively involved in e-commerce, with over 25% expressing willingness to participate.

3. Challenges in E-Commerce Development

• Storage and Transportation: A major challenge is the limited availability of appropriate storage and transportation facilities, making it difficult to preserve the freshness of agricultural products over long distances.
• Logistical Costs: High logistical costs and lack of infrastructure in some rural areas hinder e-commerce expansion.
• Marketing Constraints: Information asymmetry and lack of trust in online transactions are significant barriers to e-commerce adoption in agriculture.
• Knowledge and Skills: Farmers often lack the necessary computer knowledge, marketing skills, and access to reliable internet and logistics services.

4. Impact of ICT and E-Commerce

• Income and Employment: E-commerce has increased farmers' income and self-employment, with online prices for agricultural products being higher than offline prices, leading to net profits.
• Marketing Costs and Price Margins: Online marketing costs are generally lower than offline, and e-commerce has a positive impact on price margins for agricultural products.
• Infrastructure Access: Most villages in the PRC have access to mobile phone services and the internet, with over 70% having internet access by 2017. The average distance to a provincial highway is 7.5 km, and to a county road is 3.4 km.

5. Policy Recommendations

• Invest in Storage and Transportation: To support agricultural e-commerce, especially for perishable goods.
• Capacity Building for Farmers: Provide training to improve farmers' skills in e-commerce and digital literacy.
• Financial and Credit Support: Offer financial assistance to small farmers to reduce the initial investment burden.
• Promote Farmer Cooperation: Encourage collective e-commerce ventures to enhance competitiveness and reduce costs.
• Improve Market Regulations: Create a favorable regulatory environment to support e-commerce growth in agriculture.
• Inclusive Development: Ensure that all farmers, especially those who may be negatively affected, benefit from e-commerce development.

Structure of the Report

Chapters Overview

• Chapter 1: Introduction – Highlights the importance of ICT in global and national development, especially in poverty alleviation and rural transformation.
• Chapter 2: Applications and Policies – Discusses the growth of ICT and e-commerce in the PRC and the supporting policies.
• Chapter 3: Major Applications – Focuses on rural e-commerce, including Taobao villages and drone usage in agriculture.
• Chapter 4: Access to ICT Infrastructure – Analyzes infrastructure development and its distribution across rural areas.
• Chapter 5: Uses of ICT and E-Commerce – Examines how ICT is used in marketing, purchasing agricultural inputs, and accessing custom services.
• Chapter 6: Factors Affecting ICT Adoption – Identifies barriers and drivers at the village, household, and individual levels.
• Chapter 7: Likely Impacts – Explores the economic and market impacts of ICT and e-commerce in rural areas.
• Chapter 8: Investment in ICT and E-Commerce – Reviews the investment patterns by households in fixed and variable assets.
• Chapter 9: Conclusion and Policy Implications – Summarizes key findings and provides actionable policy recommendations.

Tables and Figures

• Tables: Include data on internet and smartphone users, e-commerce development, and ICT usage by different village conditions and household types.
• Figures: Show trends in internet adoption and penetration across provinces.
• Map: Provides spatial distribution of e-commerce activities in the PRC.

Acknowledgments

The report was prepared with support from ADB, IFPRI, and CCAP. It benefited from the contributions of numerous researchers, officials, and farmers, and was coordinated by Mark W. Rosegrant and supported by technical and editorial assistance from various ADB and IFPRI personnel.

Conclusion

ICT and e-commerce have the potential to transform rural agriculture in the PRC, but their development is uneven and faces several challenges. Strategic investments, capacity building, and inclusive policies are essential to ensure that all farmers can benefit from these technologies.