A Chinese farmer in China's northernmost Heilongjing province has invented a new type of " injection" sowing machine, which was recently awarded a state patent certificate.

Gao Qingjun, 58, developed the machine by himself from his decades of experience of farming. The machine is designed like an "injection needle for medical use", and can "inject" seeds directly into the water-saturated layer deep under the surface soil, according to Gao, from Xinghua town, Qinggang county in Heilongjiang.

In this way, it is different from conventional sowing machines which had to first break up the earth, then drop seeds and finally cover the seeds with soil again. The new machine is superior because it would not damage the wet layer of soil by not exposing it to air and sunlight and so losing no moisture, and it could therefore keep the underlying soil wet enough for seeds' growth, according to the farmer.

The new machine is highly practical for use in northeast China, which is home to the country's major farm produce bases but suffers frequent spring dry spells.

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