Smart Water Price Processor Boosts Agricultural Water Pricing Reform; Shandong Jintain’s Progressive Pricing Solution Gains Recognition from Multiple Water Authorities

As China accelerates the final push toward full implementation of agricultural water pricing reform, Shandong Jintian Water Conservancy Technology Co., Ltd. has emerged as a key technology provider, with its Smart Water Price Processor and progressive pricing solution earning widespread recognition from water authorities across multiple provinces.

Driving Policy Implementation with Intelligent Technology

In 2017, as the national agricultural water pricing reform policy began to take effect, Shandong Jintian launched its Smart Water Price Processor system for well irrigation areas. The product was soon recognized as the “most grounded professional equipment for agricultural water pricing reform,” winning acclaim for its practical, on-the-ground impact. The system integrates electricity and water dual metering and dual control functions, providing intelligent water rights management and price control technologies that are helping to turn reform policies into tangible results at the grassroots level.

The Smart Water Price Processor series represents a significant advancement in irrigation management technology. It supports progressive pricing mechanisms, enabling authorities to implement tiered water pricing structures that incentivize conservation. Users are allocated water rights within a total volume control system, and water usage beyond the quota incurs progressively higher rates, creating a powerful economic incentive for water conservation.

Aligned with National Policy Priorities

Since 2023, the Ministry of Water Resources has been deepening agricultural water pricing reform, selecting 46 pilot zones across two rounds to develop modern irrigation districts. The goal is to establish “well-equipped, water-efficient, scientifically managed, and ecologically sound” modern irrigation systems within two to three years.

The national push for reform has gained further momentum. In July 2024, five central government departments issued guidance to fully implement non-residential water use progressive pricing systems and residential tiered water pricing, while actively promoting tiered water pricing in agriculture and strengthening subsidy and reward mechanisms for water conservation. More recently, the Ministry of Water Resources outlined plans in its 2025 Rural Water Conservancy and Hydropower Work Priorities to refine agricultural water pricing mechanisms and explore innovative financing models, including water rights trading and contract water conservation.

Shandong Jintian’s Smart Water Price Processor directly supports these policy priorities. The product enables rigorous water allocation based on total control and quota management principles, delivering accurate measurement, dynamic control, and transparent pricing for agricultural water use.

Proven Performance Across China

Shandong Jintian’s products have now been deployed across China, serving nearly 4,000 villages and over 700,000 agricultural water users. The product portfolio has been successfully introduced and applied in multiple regions, including Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Henan, Hebei, Hubei, Jiangsu, and the three northeastern provinces. Within Shandong Province alone, the company’s solutions have been implemented in over 60 counties and districts.

The company’s deep expertise in the agricultural water sector is underscored by its role as a major drafting unit of the Chinese national standard “General Technical Specifications for RF Tag Irrigation Intelligent Control Systems” (GB/T 40119-2021). The national standard was released on May 21, 2021, and took effect on December 1 of the same year, with Shandong Jintian included among the key drafting organizations for the standard.

Quality and Compliance Recognized

The Smart Water Price Processor has received official endorsements from industry authorities. In 2019, the product earned a “Water Conservancy Advanced Practical Technology Promotion Certificate” from the Science and Technology Promotion Center of the Ministry of Water Resources. In July 2024, the Ministry of Water Resources issued a national directive on advancing electricity-based water measurement and management for agricultural irrigation wells, which has further accelerated the large-scale adoption of this technology across China.

The company’s R&D strength is further evidenced by its 3 invention patents and more than 20 utility model patents, as well as its status as a National High-Tech Enterprise and a provincial-level R&D center. In 2020, Shandong Jintian’s work in advancing agricultural water pricing reform was featured in a documentary titled “In the Fields of Hope,” aired on CCTV’s “Craftsmanship and Ingenuity” program, highlighting the company’s technological solutions and their real-world impact on reform implementation.

Outlook

Looking ahead, the company remains committed to its mission of “operating with integrity and serving society.” It plans to continue expanding its footprint in domestic and international markets, leveraging China’s Belt and Road Initiative to bring its mature irrigation automation solutions and intelligent water management systems to agricultural sectors worldwide. With progressive pricing and water rights management becoming increasingly critical to sustainable agriculture, Shandong Jintian is well-positioned to play a vital role in this ongoing transformation.

About Shandong Jintian Water Conservancy Technology Co., Ltd.

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in the Water-Saving Irrigation Equipment Industrial Park in Laiwu High-Tech Zone, Jinan, Shandong, Shandong Jintian is a national high-tech enterprise dedicated to the research, development, and production of intelligent water-saving irrigation solutions. The company’s product portfolio includes RF card irrigation controllers, Smart Water Price Processors, integrated water and fertilizer systems, and related automation equipment.