The municipal agricultural science and technology education center announced on September 20 that, in line with key priorities for agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, this year's high-quality farmer training agenda centers on three major initiatives: upgrading the production and operation capabilities of grain, oil, and essential agricultural product entities; cultivating leaders for new rural industries and business models; and enhancing the quality and cultural awareness of rural residents to foster civilized customs.

The first initiative focuses on stabilizing grain and oil production while improving the efficiency and quality of the "vegetable basket" industry. Training efforts are primarily directed at two areas: one covers high-yield farming techniques, pest and disease control, agricultural machinery use and maintenance, farmland construction and protection, and disaster prevention and mitigation for crops; the other addresses livestock management, forage processing, epidemic prevention, and the resource-efficient utilization of animal waste.

The second initiative aims to promote the deep integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in rural areas and the development of diverse agricultural functions, supporting the growth of rural industries and steady income increases for farmers. A key focus is expanding the application of digital technologies in agricultural production, management, and services, while exploring talent development in areas such as "agriculture plus" technology education, leisure tourism, artificial intelligence, ecological wellness, and traditional crafts. According to Ding Ling, head of the municipal agricultural science and education center, this includes training leaders for the integrated development of agriculture, culture, and tourism, covering the design of rural tourism products and experiential activities, as well as agricultural product brokers skilled in market information collection and analysis, quality assessment, storage and transportation, marketing, and emergency sales promotion. Additionally, under the "Anhui Premium Upgrade" initiative for agricultural product processing, training covers storage and preservation, pre-cooling and drying, cleaning and grading, and segmentation and packaging techniques.

The third initiative focuses on building civilized rural customs by promoting the intellectual, cultural, and moral values embedded in farming traditions. It seeks to strengthen farmers' awareness and ability to preserve and pass on agricultural heritage and practice new social customs, cultivating a group of cultural inheritors, rural literary and artistic creators, and cultural communicators. The city will also provide training for leaders of rural collective economic organizations, covering topics such as policy coordination and governance, industrial management and market expansion, organizational governance, and financial capital.

Counties and districts are currently selecting training candidates, choosing suitable training institutions, and clarifying course requirements based on demand, quality, and practical effectiveness. Training sessions have begun to launch in phases. According to data from the municipal agricultural science and education center, the three initiatives plan to train 940 people this year. As of September 20, Xiangshan District and Suixi County have already opened five training classes for the grain, oil, and essential agricultural product production and operation initiative, training a total of 250 participants.