Dongying city in Shandong province has been promoting farming skills certification as part of its efforts to facilitate rural vitalization and accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

The city held its first agricultural drone flight skills certification exam on March 24. This was the first exam of its kind in Shandong.

A farmer takes an agricultural drone flight skills certification exam on March 24 in Dongying, Shandong province. [Photo/iqilu.com]

A total of 26 farmers from different counties and districts in Dongying sat for the examination, and 12 were identified as "farmer technician for agricultural drone" and two were identified as "senior technician for agricultural drone".

"Land operators will be more assured of my service quality as I obtained the official certification," said Su Shuaishuai, a local who passed the exam.

In 2019, Dongying took the lead in hosting a vocational skills competition for farmers in the province. The city later started the farming skills certification project.

"Farmers engaged in planting and breeding, traditional handicraft, farm product processing and other related businesses in rural areas can now receive official certification for their skills," said Cheng Jie, an official from Dongying human resources and social security bureau.

The city provides a one-time reward subsidy of 3,000 yuan ($458.1), 5,000 yuan, 8,000 yuan to people who obtain certifications for farmer technician, farmer senior technician, and farmer special grade technician respectively.

The city is also conducting various training courses for farmers to improve their skills and promote rural development.

"The move can boost employment, entrepreneurship and innovation in the rural areas, push forward all-round rural vitalization and accelerate the modernization of the agricultural sector," said Cheng.