HAIKOU /China/, March 9. /TASS/. Hainan's administrative center Haikou City is forming a new, more efficient model of agricultural sector development, according to a report by Hainan Daily.

According to the newspaper, the authorities are widely introducing alternative sources of energy, in particular solar panels, to ensure the intensive growth of agriculture. They are covering greenhouses and generating electricity, creating an additional source of light for the plants.

As clarified by the local authorities, the total area of such innovative constructions belonging to agricultural farms that have started to apply this technology in Haikou exceeds 80 hectares. According to experts, such structures with a rather strong frame not only increase the efficiency of land use, but also help protect plants during bad weather when strong storms hit the city.

Moreover, the new model of growing vegetables is said to minimize the damage that insects cause to the plants. Crops typically mature in 35 to 45 days and reach about 11.2 to 13.4 tons per hectare.

Haikou, with a population of 2.8 million, is Hainan's main cultural and economic center, actively communicating with many cities around the world. It is a major international transport hub, capable of handling several million containers annually. According to the Chinese government's plan, a major cluster of headquarters and representative offices of a number of multinational companies will be formed here.