Zhoukou, Henan: State Grid Ensures Wheat Fields Get Their “Winter Drink” with Reliable Power Supply

With the saying “If wheat lacks winter’s rain, its yield will be in half vain” ringing true, State Grid Zhoukou Power Supply Company has prioritized winter wheat irrigation amidst a dry spell. Since the start of winter, the Zhoukou region has experienced a lack of significant rainfall, leading to drought conditions threatening the upcoming wheat crop. Recognizing the urgency, State Grid Zhoukou Power Supply Company has made providing reliable power for irrigation a top priority, ensuring wheat fields receive their crucial “winter drink.” As of January 16th, the company has deployed 120 service teams to inspect over 14,400 low-voltage agricultural pumping stations and 108,000 wells across the city, addressing 61 potential safety hazards to guarantee uninterrupted power for winter irrigation.

“Thanks to State Grid’s support, we now have easy access to electricity for irrigation with just a swipe of a card,” said Liu Lei, Director of the Agricultural Department at the Zhoukou Yellow River Flood Area Farm. “Farmers have been actively irrigating their fields, and we’ve already irrigated over 143,000 acres. We expect to finish irrigating the remaining farmland within the next two to three days.”

At the Zhoukou National Agricultural High-Tech Industrial Demonstration Zone, “5G+ Smart Agriculture” projects are transforming farming practices. With the flick of a switch, crystal-clear water flows into the wheat fields. “From the fields outside to the vegetables inside the greenhouses, everything now utilizes smart electrical equipment,” explained a staff member at Sanhe Yimin Co., Ltd. in the demonstration zone, gesturing towards an integrated smart irrigation and fertilization system installed inside a greenhouse. “We’ve transitioned from relying on unpredictable weather to data-driven precision.”

To ensure a stable power supply for grain production, State Grid Zhoukou Power Supply Company has invested heavily in high-standard farmland power infrastructure. With a total investment of 728 million yuan, the company has completed power grid construction for nearly 4 million acres of high-standard farmland. (By Zhang Dawei, Hu Chenhui, and Qiu Zhiqiang)