The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has issued opinions on accelerating the high-quality development of mechanization in the initial processing of agricultural products. The specific content is as follows.

The initial processing of agricultural products is an important foundation for modern agriculture to strengthen the industrial chain, optimize the supply chain, and enhance the value chain. Developing mechanization in the initial processing of agricultural products is beneficial for reducing product losses, improving product quality, enhancing product processing and transformation capabilities, and improving agricultural production and operation efficiency. It is of great significance for expanding and strengthening the agricultural product processing and circulation industry, developing rural industries, broadening channels for farmers to increase income and become prosperous, and consolidating and expanding the achievements of poverty alleviation. In recent years, China has made significant progress in the mechanization of primary processing of agricultural products, but the development is still unbalanced and insufficient. Some regions, industries, and links have problems such as insufficient equipment, low technical level, inadequate facilities and equipment, and weak processing service capabilities that urgently need to be solved. In order to fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the relevant deployment requirements of the No. 1 central document of the Central Committee of the CPC in 2023 and the Guiding Opinions of the State Council on Accelerating the Transformation and Upgrading of Agricultural Mechanization and Agricultural Machinery Equipment Industry (GF [2018] No. 42), the following opinions are put forward on accelerating the high-quality development of primary processing mechanization of agricultural products.

1、 Overall requirements

（1） Guiding ideology

  Accelerate the level and quality of mechanization in the initial processing of agricultural products, promote the high-quality development of agricultural mechanization and the circulation industry of agricultural product processing, and provide strong support for the development of rural industries, consolidation and expansion of poverty alleviation achievements, comprehensive promotion of rural revitalization, and acceleration of the construction of an agricultural powerhouse.

（2） Basic principles

Adhere to local conditions and highlight key points. Focusing on the initial processing needs of agricultural products, such as dehulling, slaughtering, scaling, separation, cleaning, grading, drying, pressing, crushing, packaging, and cold storage and preservation, we will clarify the key points of mechanization development by region, industry, variety, and link, highlighting the research and promotion of primary processing facilities and equipment required for reducing grain losses and ensuring supply, improving the quality and efficiency of vegetable basket products, and promoting the development and growth of characteristic industries in poverty-stricken areas. We will pay attention to problem orientation, systematic planning, optimize production capacity layout, and effectively serve the development of key industries.

Adhere to market leadership and government support. Focusing on the leading industries and the needs of farmers, fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of market entities, technology and equipment research and development units, and manufacturing enterprises in the initial processing of agricultural products, strengthening policy guidance, increasing support, promoting rational allocation of resources, advancing mechanization and scale of agricultural product initial processing production, professionalization and socialization of processing services, and providing strong support for the commercialization and deep processing of agricultural products.

Adhere to innovation driven and coordinated promotion. Strengthen the independent research and development of primary processing technology and equipment for agricultural products, innovate and promote application mechanisms, accelerate the filling of shortcomings, and promote the complete set, engineering, and digitization of equipment. Coordinate the development of mechanization in agricultural product production and initial processing in production areas, innovate the service mode of initial processing mechanization, continuously improve the quality and efficiency of initial processing of agricultural products, and expand the value chain of the agricultural industry chain.

Adhere to green leadership and clean production. Promote green, clean, intelligent and efficient agricultural product initial processing technology and equipment, advance the resource utilization and harmless use of agricultural product initial processing waste, achieve a balance between the development of agricultural product initial processing mechanization and environmental protection, and achieve green development.

（3） Development Goals

By 2025, the basic establishment of a mechanized production service system for the initial processing of bulk grain and oil, bulk livestock and poultry, and aquatic products will be achieved. The level of mechanization in the initial processing of major fruit and vegetable products will be greatly improved, and the problem of weak links in the initial processing of characteristic agricultural products, such as "inorganic availability and lack of good machines", will be broken through. The mechanization rate of initial processing of agricultural products will reach over 50%. The mechanization rate of primary processing of bulk grains and oilseeds has reached over 60%, the mechanization rate of primary processing of fruits and vegetables has reached over 40%, and the mechanization rate of primary processing of livestock and poultry products and aquatic products has reached over 50%.

By 2035, the overall mechanization rate of initial processing of agricultural products will reach over 70%, and the mechanization of various industries and links in the initial processing of agricultural products in production areas will be basically achieved. The service capacity can meet the production needs, the technical equipment system will be fully equipped, and information and intelligent technologies will be widely applied, entering a stage of high-quality development comprehensively.

2、 Key tasks

（4） Accelerate the mechanization level of primary processing of grain and oilseeds

Vigorously promote the construction of drying facilities and equipment in grain and oilseed production areas, accelerate the improvement of drying and storage capacity in production areas, and ensure the needs of disaster prevention and reduction, grain conservation and loss reduction in grain and oilseed production. Accelerate the filling of the drying capacity gap in grain production areas, scientifically plan and layout, build and expand drying centers (points) in grain production areas, make up for the shortcomings of facilities and equipment, optimize the configuration of drying technology and equipment, promote the application of green and environmentally friendly heat sources, improve the technical level of grain moisture detection equipment, enhance the online monitoring ability of grain drying quality and operation volume, and promote the greening and informatization of grain drying. Combining with the construction of grain drying capacity, according to the requirements of universal facilities and equipment, and meeting special needs, we will lay out the construction of drying capacity for oilseeds such as rapeseed and soybeans, and strengthen the research and application of oilseed moisture detection equipment. Promote the research and development of drying technology and equipment in peanut production areas, and reduce the loss of mold after flower production. Support the initial processing of small specialty oilseeds, continuously improve the level of flexible shelling and peeling separation technology equipment, and reduce the damage rate. Accelerate the promotion and application of rice bran puffing equipment to provide effective support for rice bran oil production. Accelerate the breakthrough of potato processing disease detection technology, promote surface cleaning, grading and sorting, low loss handling, reduced loss storage, clean fresh cutting and other technical equipment, promote the commercialization of production areas, and reduce the loss of potato storage deterioration.

（5） Accelerate the development of mechanization for fruit and vegetable cleaning, grading, and quality assurance

We will vigorously develop the mechanization of initial processing of fruits and vegetables around the distribution of fruit and vegetable production areas, fresh consumption, and deep processing needs. With the support of farmers' cooperatives, family farms, processing and distribution enterprises, rural e-commerce and other entities, we will strengthen the construction of initial processing facilities and equipment in fruit and vegetable production areas, enhance standardized processing capabilities, improve service functions, reduce post harvest losses of fruits and vegetables, and promote quality and value enhancement. In the initial processing of vegetables, we will focus on promoting technologies and equipment such as selection, cutting, cleaning, grading, packaging, and pre cooling preservation. We will accelerate the development of intelligent and energy-saving complete sets of technologies and equipment for clean vegetable processing, dehydration and drying, and preservation and storage, in order to improve the commercialization rate of vegetable production areas. For the initial processing of fruits, we will focus on promoting complete sets of technical equipment such as non-destructive testing, grading and sorting, sterilization and packaging, and intelligent pre cooling and refrigeration to maintain fruit quality and improve circulation efficiency. The initial processing of edible mushrooms focuses on promoting post harvest drying, graded packaging, and preservation and storage technology and equipment to improve the quality and efficiency of industrial development.

（6） Actively expanding the mechanization field of primary processing of characteristic and advantageous agricultural products

Intensify the promotion of mechanization in the initial processing of characteristic and advantageous agricultural products, accelerate the promotion and application of technical equipment such as cleaning and sorting, drying and storage, graded packaging, and pre cooling preservation in the main production areas, support and strengthen the service providers of initial processing mechanization, support the stable development of the industry, and expand the space for industrial value-added and efficiency improvement. In the initial processing of tea, we will focus on developing energy-saving sorting, molding, and drying technology equipment. In areas where conditions permit, we will develop automated and intelligent processing technology equipment to improve the quality of tea. In the initial processing of traditional Chinese medicine materials, the focus is on developing technology and equipment for purification, cutting, drying, sorting, packaging, and storage to ensure the unique processing needs of medicinal materials. We actively promote the research and development of technology and equipment for steaming, withering, fermentation, sweating, and other processes. Primary processing of hemp, with a focus on developing fiber stripping, combing, and drying technology equipment. Promote the research and development of machinery and supporting equipment for the initial processing of long staple cotton, and accelerate the upgrading and transformation of cotton initial processing equipment. Actively promote the mechanization of nut peeling and shelling, sterilization, drying and grading, silkworm cocoon drying and shelling, spice drying and shelling, etc., promote the upgrading of primary processing equipment for characteristic advantageous agricultural products in poverty-stricken areas, and help the industry grow and strengthen.

（7） Comprehensively improve the mechanization level of initial processing of livestock and poultry products

Adhere to the matching of slaughter and breeding layout, support the transfer of advantageous slaughter capacity to breeding concentration areas, achieve nearby slaughter and processing of livestock and poultry, and promote the transformation of live livestock and poultry to meat transportation. Eliminate outdated production capacity, optimize the slaughter process, promote research and development innovation entities to create livestock and poultry slaughter and processing equipment, and fill the gaps in localization. With the help of digital technology and artificial intelligence technology, accelerate the promotion and application of complete sets of slaughter and processing technology equipment and digital traceability systems, such as pre slaughter inspection, automatic chest opening or automatic chamber digging, post slaughter synchronous inspection, automatic splitting, online weighing, automatic grading, cooling and acid removal, automatic segmentation, product packaging, freezing and refrigeration, intelligent inbound and outbound storage, etc. Support and guide the upgrading of old slaughter and processing facilities and equipment, and promote the construction of slaughter enterprises that integrate fully mechanized technologies including dizzying, slaughtering, scalding, depilation, splitting, weighing, cleaning, cooling and segmentation, sterilization, packaging, freezing, and refrigeration. Encourage enterprises to carry out integrated operations of breeding, slaughtering, processing, distribution, and sales, actively promote the application of green environmental protection and harmless treatment technologies and equipment, and promote the comprehensive utilization of bone, fur, blood, and other resources. Strengthen the promotion and application of complete sets of technical equipment for the collection, sorting, cleaning, sterilization, air drying, oil spraying protection, inspection and weighing, and graded packaging of poultry eggs, and improve the hygiene quality of egg products. Strengthen the promotion and application of complete sets of equipment for pre cooling and refrigeration of fresh milk and cold chain transportation equipment, encourage eligible dairy farmers and cooperatives to carry out integrated operations of breeding, processing, distribution, and sales, and provide strong support for ensuring the quality of fresh dairy products.

（8） Steadily promote the mechanization development of primary processing of aquatic products

Optimize the layout of initial processing of aquatic products, focus on the main production areas and key varieties, accelerate the filling of the short links in the initial processing chain of aquatic products, increase the processing ratio, and achieve loss reduction and efficiency improvement. Promote the configuration and upgrading of temporary breeding purification, grading, and preservation transportation facilities and equipment for aquatic product breeding enterprises, the configuration and upgrading of refrigeration and freezing equipment on fishing vessels, the configuration and upgrading of grading, cleaning and segmentation, preservation and freezing, sterilization packaging, and ecological environmental protection facilities and equipment for primary processing enterprises in production areas, and improve the circulation function of primary processing services. Focusing on the temporary cultivation, grading, transportation, three removal (scale removal, gill removal, visceral removal), bloodletting, segmentation, and rapid freezing of economic fish primary processing, cleaning, grading, peeling, and shell removal of shrimp primary processing, cleaning, purification, pre cooling, grading, and meat extraction of shellfish primary processing, offshore harvesting, transportation, and onshore blanching, trimming, and drying of algae, dissection, cleaning, cutting, and steaming of cephalopods, grading, cleaning, steaming, drying of sea cucumbers, comprehensive utilization of by-products such as fish head bones, viscera, and shells, accelerating the research and development, demonstration, and promotion of applicable equipment in the industry, and promoting the complete set, automation, and intelligence of technical equipment. Transform.

（9） Accelerate the construction of mechanization technology and application system for primary processing of agricultural products

Improve the innovation system of mechanization technology for initial processing of agricultural products, establish a sound innovation mechanism with enterprises as the main body and government industry university research cooperation, promote the integration of agricultural machinery and equipment with initial processing technology of agricultural products, strengthen the research and development of common technologies and key equipment, enhance the utilization of waste resources and harmless treatment technology equipment, accelerate the integration and innovation of technical equipment, promote the complete set of mechanical equipment for initial processing of agricultural products, and the integrated application of complete sets of equipment and supporting facilities, and improve the engineering level of initial processing of agricultural products. Accelerate the construction of information technology application system for initial processing of agricultural products, promote the integration of modern information technology and mechanization of initial processing of agricultural products, vigorously promote the integration of online non-destructive testing, precise control, and intelligent operation of initial processing technology and equipment, strengthen the monitoring and quality tracing of important initial processing operations of agricultural products, encourage market entities in the initial processing of agricultural products to carry out facility and equipment information transformation, improve the level of informationization and intelligence of complete sets of initial processing equipment, promote information interconnection, data sharing, and efficient utilization of resources. Promote the construction of a standardized system for mechanization in the initial processing of agricultural products, accelerate the revision of standards for agricultural product initial processing equipment and supporting mechanization processes, operating procedures, etc., strengthen the screening and evaluation of standardized initial processing technologies, facilities and equipment, and accelerate their promotion and application. Accelerate the construction of a socialized service system for initial processing of agricultural products, actively explore and develop socialized services such as production management, order operations, and contracting services for initial processing of agricultural products, and achieve efficient utilization of initial processing equipment.

3、 Guarantee measures

（10） Strengthen organizational leadership. All levels of agricultural and rural departments should include the mechanization of primary processing of agricultural products in the development plan of agricultural mechanization and related industries, and put it on the important agenda, strengthen planning guidance, policy support, and work guidance; Relevant parties such as agricultural mechanization, financial planning, marketing, science and education, rural industries, planting, animal husbandry, and fisheries should closely communicate, establish a coordinated, multi-party participation, and division of labor cooperation mechanism, organize and mobilize system forces, conduct investigations and research, top-level design, and policy planning, and work together to promote the mechanization development of agricultural product primary processing. Strengthen communication and coordination with relevant departments such as finance, science and technology, industry and information technology, natural resources, and ecological environment, strive for support, form a working force, and create favorable conditions for the development of mechanization in the initial processing of agricultural products.

（11） Improve support policies. Incorporate the weak links in the mechanization of initial processing of agricultural products into the important content of filling the gaps in agricultural machinery and equipment, strive for project support from science and technology and finance departments, and increase investment in the research and development of agricultural product initial processing technology and equipment in key research and development plans and scientific research conditions construction projects. Intensify policy support for the promotion and application of primary processing equipment for agricultural products. Promote the implementation of preferential policies for income tax and value-added tax deduction for primary processing enterprises of agricultural products, policies on electricity prices for agricultural production, and policies on land management for facility agriculture. Strengthen financial credit support, support pilot projects for leasing large-scale complete sets of equipment, encourage localities to explore discounted loans for purchasing large-scale complete sets of agricultural product initial processing equipment, and guide financial institutions to prioritize providing loans.

（12） Strengthen demonstration and guidance. Fully utilize platforms such as modern agricultural industrial parks and agricultural modernization demonstration zones in various regions, as well as projects such as the construction of agricultural product storage and cold chain facilities, to establish mechanization bases for primary processing of agricultural products and create high-level demonstration application scenarios. Select and promote a group of green, efficient, advanced and applicable new technologies, equipment, models and typical cases for the initial processing of agricultural products that meet the actual production needs, in order to enhance the demonstration and promotion effect. Encourage various regions to mobilize the enthusiasm of agricultural product primary processing equipment manufacturing enterprises, new primary processing business entities, research institutes and universities, and social organizations to participate through project support, government procurement of services, and other means, establish experimental bases, carry out technical experiments, equipment research and development improvements, talent training, and promotion services.

（13） Optimize public services. Improve the evaluation index system and methods for the mechanization level of initial processing of agricultural products, and carry out development statistics, monitoring analysis, and result release. Intensify the promotion of mechanization standards for initial processing of agricultural products. Actively explore and carry out testing and identification of complete sets of equipment, integrated facilities and equipment, as well as IoT and intelligent equipment, and accelerate the transformation, promotion and application of new equipment and technologies. Give full play to the role of industry associations and societies, strengthen information exchange, education and training, standard setting, and technical guidance on the mechanization of initial processing of agricultural products. Support the extension of socialized agricultural machinery service organizations to primary processing and operation services, and guide innovative service mechanisms, new formats, and new models. Promote the construction of professional service teams and cultivate a group of practical talents in the operation, maintenance, and management of agricultural product primary processing machinery. Strengthen safety education and training on the use of initial processing equipment for agricultural products, and supervise and guide production entities to ensure safe production.