Recently, the Jiangsu provincial government has released the 2021 project for developing“Internet+� agricultural products. Ten counties (districts) across Jiangsu are selected as pilot areas, including Jintan District in Changzhou.

In Jintan, mitten crab farming is a pillar industry, which has an annual output of over 1 billion yuan. Surrounding the Changdang Lake are many crab farms; each is small in size, yet with precise management, has a high production yield. The annual production of the district stands at 16,000 tons, registering an annual output value of 1.6 billion yuan. In recent years, the Jintan government has strengthened the crab farming industry through selecting breeds, improving quality and establishing local brands.

It has also combined the concept of“Internet+� agriculture with crab farming. Demonstration villages in e-commerce have been developed. Last year, the sales of mitten crabs exceeded 1 billion yuan, with over 200 million yuan of products sold through e-commerce platforms.

The provincial project will last three years. In the future, the Jintan District will continue to leverage the role of online platforms - which will play an important role in the production, processing, storage, and sales of produce, thus promoting the integrated development of primary and tertiary industries in the rural area.