Cui Qiang, male, born in September 1980, is a native of Lingang District, Weihai City. He holds a college degree and currently serves as General Manager of Weihai Zhongyi Modern Agricultural Equipment Technology Co., Ltd. and General Manager of Weihai Huanglan Family Farm Co., Ltd. He is also Deputy Director of the Equipment and Machinery Special Committee of Weihai Apple Industry Association and Chief Expert of Agricultural Machinery for Rural Revitalization in Lingang District, Weihai City.

Over the years, he has led his team to obtain 16 national patents (with another 7 under application) in the fields of animal husbandry automation equipment and modern orchard equipment. Four products have obtained national agricultural machinery extension appraisal certificates and been included in the national agricultural machinery subsidy catalogue; another 9 products have passed appraisal and are awaiting certificates, making a total of 13 products qualified. Two products have obtained scientific and technological achievement appraisal certificates. He has also participated in formulating 5 provincial local standards for modern apple cultivation. For many years, he has been committed to promoting the automation and modernization of agricultural equipment in China.

After graduation in 2000, Cui Qiang joined a foreign trade company in Weihai, engaged in import and export of electromechanical products and R&D of heavy construction machinery. In 2006, he founded Weihai Zhongnong Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd., mainly engaged in R&D and production of automated feeding machinery for fur animals.

In the same year, he developed China’s first intelligent self-propelled fur animal feed delivery vehicle, filling a domestic gap in this field. Through years of arduous R&D and promotion, guided by the spirit of “pragmatism, innovation, preciseness and responsibility”, he worked with fellow fur animal breeders across China to revolutionize the traditional feeding mode with intelligent mechanization. The feeding efficiency was drastically improved—from several times per minute to three times per second—greatly reducing labor costs. He made outstanding contributions to the development of fur animal breeding industry in Weihai and nationwide. His products cover major breeding areas stretching from Ningbo in the south to Mohe in the north and Bole in Xinjiang in the west, becoming a leading brand in the industry.

In 2015, he set sail again. With extraordinary perseverance, firm conviction and scientific methods, he upheld the strategy of revitalizing agriculture through science and technology, and devoted himself more deeply and steadily to the R&D of supporting equipment for modern orchard industry.

I. Love for Hometown, Innovative Vision and Pioneering Spirit in Developing Modern Orchard Equipment

In early 2015, Cui Qiang met with leaders of Weihai Municipal Bureau of Agriculture by chance. They told him that the development of Weihai’s modern apple industry was constrained by a serious shortage of supporting equipment, which hindered industrial growth. They asked whether he could leverage his company’s strengths to develop relevant equipment to support modern fruit industry.

Out of love for his hometown and confidence in his team, Cui Qiang agreed without hesitation. After months of careful preparation, he selected an elite technical team, allocated sufficient startup capital, and established Weihai Zhongyi Modern Agricultural Equipment Technology Co., Ltd., a specialized subsidiary dedicated to R&D and manufacturing of modern orchard equipment. Drawing on his successful experience in developing fur animal feeding equipment, he also contracted more than 200 mu of land in Huanglan Subdistrict, Lingang District, Weihai to build an equipment testing base (Weihai Huanglan Farm), striving for perfection in every detail.

This was his unique approach: only by standing in the shoes of modern orchard growers and operators could he identify the pain points of equipment shortages in fruit production. He observed the industry from a first-person perspective, firmly believing that this viewpoint would guide equipment R&D, test product practicality, and truly understand the needs of growers.

With a clear development vision and work plan, in November he flew to Europe with his colleagues. Over 20 days, they visited advanced farms and agricultural machinery manufacturers in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy and other countries, taking photos, consulting experts, operating equipment and learning advanced experience. Though unfamiliar with orchard management at that time, he kept asking questions, recording details in photos and videos, and resolved to learn bit by bit. With cameras full of images and notebooks filled with notes, he returned to Weihai, envisioning a bright future for China’s orchard equipment industry.

II. Bold Action, Perseverance and Bold Vision for Transformation

After returning to China, accompanied by leaders of the Municipal Bureau of Agriculture, he visited multiple modern orchard parks in Weihai and was deeply struck by the huge gap in equipment support. At that time, modern orchards in Weihai basically only had poorly controlled tractors and low-efficiency sprayers, with almost no other specialized equipment. While adopting advanced planting models from abroad, local orchards still relied on outdated tools from the last century—stools, ladders, shovels, sickles, walking tractors and tricycles—for daily management. Cui Qiang resolved to spare no effort to empower modern fruit industry with technology.

From then on, he personally planted apple trees on mountainous land. To grasp first-hand demand for orchard production equipment, he participated in the entire process of orchard development: barren hill planning, land leveling, staking, ditching, organic fertilizer application, tree planting, watering, support erection, wire installation, pruning and branch pulling. He often lived and ate in mountain sheds for days on end until the 200-mu base was fully constructed, tanned deeply from working outdoors. Through hands-on work alongside frontline growers, he gained authentic insights into equipment needs.

In 2016, after countless failures, Cui Qiang led his team to develop China’s first multi-functional orchard fertilizer applicator. The machine greatly reduced labor demand in basal fertilizer application, soil conditioner spreading, topdressing and biomass mulching, with one machine replacing dozens of workers. It featured ditching fertilization, side spreading and rear-side spreading functions, significantly improving efficiency, cutting labor costs and increasing economic benefits for modern orchard operators.

From 2016 to the present, he has successively developed more than 20 types of modern orchard machinery in 8 series. The team has obtained 11 national patents (7 pending), 2 scientific and technological achievement appraisals for orchard harvesting platforms, 4 national agricultural machinery extension certificates, and 9 certified products awaiting issuance, totaling 13 products listed in the national agricultural machinery subsidy catalogue.

Under his leadership:

• Weihai Zhongyi Agricultural Equipment was recognized as a Sci-Tech Small and Medium Enterprise in 2019;
• certified as a National High-Tech Enterprise in 2020;
• named a Weihai Agricultural Sci-Tech Enterprise in 2022.

Meanwhile:

• Weihai Huanglan Family Farm was awarded an Advanced Unit of Efficient Agriculture in Lingang District in 2016;
• designated as a Demonstration Station for New Professional Farmers in Rural Revitalization of Shandong Province in 2019;
• its “Huanglan Farm” apples were certified as China Grade A Green Food in 2021.

Today, modern orchard equipment developed by Cui Qiang’s team not only serves Weihai and Shandong Province, but is also sold across Shaanxi, Shanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Henan, Hebei, Yunnan, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In 2021, products were exported to Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands and other countries.

III. Modesty, Dedication, Repaying Hometown and Promoting Common Prosperity

With enthusiasm and modesty, Cui Qiang has steadily advanced the rural revitalization strategy. His team has not only boosted economic benefits for modern orchard growers in Weihai and nationwide through equipment innovation, but also set a strong example for neighboring fruit farmers by demonstrating world-leading orchard management techniques, modern agricultural equipment applications and standardized orchard management models, generating remarkable social benefits.

The experimental farm annually provides employment for over 100 people from more than 10 surrounding villages, increasing their incomes and easing local employment pressure. Beyond R&D work, Cui Qiang actively cooperates with Weihai Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Municipal Academy of Agricultural Sciences to provide training on modern orchard machinery for local growers, guiding them to replace manual labor with machinery to improve efficiency, increase production and raise incomes.

His down-to-earth, pioneering, persistent and problem-solving spirit has won wide recognition:

• In April 2018, his multi-functional fertilizer applicator, orchard harvesting platform and intelligent feeding vehicle were reported by the Invention Fans program.
• In November 2020, his orchard harvesting platform, harvesting train and multi-functional fertilizer applicator were featured repeatedly by Shandong Agricultural Science and Technology Channel.
• In December 2020, the multi-functional orchard fertilizer applicator was broadcast on I Love Inventions on CCTV-17 Agricultural and Rural Channel.
• In March 2022, Ma Changchun, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Shandong Province, and Guan Yanhua, Director of the Provincial Agricultural Machinery Appraisal Station, visited Zhongyi Company for inspection, highly commending its products and encouraging further progress.
• In July 2022, Zhou Zeyu, Director of the Horticultural Crops Division of the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chief Expert Li Li, and other provincial and municipal leaders inspected Zhongyi Company and spoke highly of its products and R&D capabilities.

The journey of product development is fraught with difficulties: capital, market, technology and talent are all indispensable. There were times when Cui Qiang felt tired and discouraged. Yet after calming down, he reflected on his original aspiration and the values instilled by his parents—to be a person beneficial to the community and society. Brushing off the dust, he pressed forward courageously. To be needed by society, he believes, is a true blessing.

Publicity Department of the Party Working CommitteeSocial Work Department of Weihai Lingang Economic and Technological Development DistrictCommittee of CPC Weihai Lingang Economic and Technological Development DistrictSeptember 1, 2022