Since the emergence of smart cities, they have captured widespread public attention. Today, smart city projects are being implemented across various regions, and the results have been quite encouraging. However, the trend of smart technology is now extending into rural areas, aiming to bring real intelligence to both urban and rural communities. This wave of digital transformation presents a significant opportunity to bridge the urban-rural divide and effectively address the "three rural issues"—agriculture, rural areas, and farmers.
The development of a smart countryside should prioritize the safety of farmers’ lives and property. Unlike urban environments, rural areas often feature more complex and diverse geographical conditions, including mountains, forests, and water bodies, which can pose hidden risks from natural disasters. Therefore, it’s essential for villagers to remain vigilant and take preventive measures.
Traditional manual monitoring methods are often inefficient and insufficient in handling unexpected situations. Deploying the right Internet of Things (IoT) solutions can provide accurate and timely forecasting, monitoring, and alerts. For example, in 2014, Hubei Province launched the “Village Village†smart broadcasting network project. By embedding smart chips in village loudspeakers and utilizing mobile IoT technology, a timely and effective disaster warning system was established. In emergencies, authorized personnel can issue alarms via mobile phones or the internet, regardless of time or location.
In addition to safety, smart rural development should also focus on optimizing how farmers earn their livelihoods. Crop cultivation and livestock farming are the main sources of income for many rural families. Currently, IoT systems tailored for agriculture, aquaculture, and animal husbandry are already being deployed. Some new applications in China's rural areas are helping reduce labor costs and improve product quality.
But the potential of IoT goes beyond that. The rise of rural e-commerce allows farmers not only to produce but also to act as operators, thereby increasing their profits. IoT serves as an effective platform for connecting buyers and farmers. Real-time images of product production and detailed data are far more appealing than simple text or pictures, and this is exactly what IoT can offer. Moreover, with the emergence of initiatives like crop and livestock adoption in rural tourism, IoT can enable adopters to monitor the growth of plants and animals remotely, attracting more people to participate in these experiences.
Finally, improving the quality of life for farmers should be an ongoing goal of smart rural construction. While it's difficult to balance the distribution of resources such as healthcare, education, culture, and entertainment between urban and rural areas, cities will continue to dominate in the short term. However, these resources are just as vital for rural residents.
IoT can significantly enhance the sharing of urban resources, making spatial distance less of an obstacle. Telemedicine, distance learning, and digital libraries are becoming mature solutions. Through IoT, high-quality urban resources can directly benefit rural populations, eliminating the need for long trips to seek medical care or education. Although not as visually striking as constructing high-rise buildings, this approach injects strong soft power into the urbanization process.
To realize the vision of smart rural development, the first step is to ensure comprehensive IoT coverage across vast rural areas. Besides the major telecom operators actively preparing for this, the radio and television sector also took action this May by promoting a nationwide super Wi-Fi IoT network. With the improvement of basic infrastructure, IoT applications in rural areas are expected to grow rapidly. Smart village construction will develop in tandem with smart city efforts, creating a smarter future that benefits everyone.
Wonke Electric CO.,Ltd. , https://www.wkdq-electric.com