AGRICULTURAL machinery has played a leading role in agricultural production in Qingdao. There are now more than 800,000 agricultural machines in the city and agricultural revenue is expected to reach 3.65 billion yuan this year. Mechanization will be rapidly increased in growing peanuts, potatoes and garden crops.

    The number of agricultural machinery cooperative societies increased by 127 this year, bringing the total to 208. There are 6,851 members of the societies, serving about 378,000 farming households.

    The expected revenue of 3.65 billion yuan from agricultural machinery services will include 3.12 billion yuan revenue for operations, 140 million yuan for repairs and 340 million yuan for fuel. More than 10,000 machines have been used to plant wheat and corn, with profits of 230 million yuan for machine drivers.

    (Wang Yuanyuan, Liu Kunfeng, Ren Hongzhen)