The 4MZ-5 cotton picker is a large, five-row, horizontally mounted, self-propelled cotton harvesting machine with a front-mounted picking platform, an inverted automatic transfer cotton box, and a hybrid hydraulic-mechanical drive system. It is powered by an engine with 186 kW of power. After comprehensive testing and practical application by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, it achieved a picking rate of 95.03%, an operating speed of 5.77 km/h, fuel consumption of 1.7 kg/hr, and impurity content below 10%. Its overall performance has reached international advanced levels, matching or even surpassing foreign cotton pickers in several key parameters. This product was developed by Guizhou Pingshui Machinery Co., Ltd., affiliated with China Aviation Industry First Group and the China Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences. Designed through the "production, study, and research" model in 2002, it was fully developed and manufactured by Guizhou Pingshui. Except for components like gearboxes, hydraulic pumps, motors, valves, and cylinders, over 90% of parts are locally produced, marking a major breakthrough in domestic agricultural machinery.
Guizhou Pingshui became the only domestic manufacturer and the third globally capable of producing large-scale self-propelled cotton pickers. The development of the 4MZ-5 filled a critical domestic gap and broke the foreign monopoly. In 2004, the project received support from the national debt fund. By 2006, the company aimed to achieve annual production capacity. In 2004, 10 units were produced and purchased entirely by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps’ Eighth Division. In 2005, the Corps ordered 20 units, including six 4MZ-5 models. A new improved version had already completed joint testing.
The success of the 4MZ-5 project laid the foundation for China’s independent development of major technical equipment. Key factors included the "production, study, and research" collaboration model, which shortened the design cycle; significant investment in R&D, with over 28 million yuan invested despite tight funding; close market engagement with the Xinjiang Corps, which provided strong support in testing and field trials; and national policy backing as part of the "National Key New Product Plan."
The project's implementation holds great significance for revitalizing China’s manufacturing sector and promoting rural modernization. First, it enhanced awareness of independent innovation, breaking the foreign monopoly. The 4MZ-5 uses advanced hydraulic and automatic control technologies, making it a high-tech agricultural machine. Through electromechanical integration and close collaboration with research institutions and users, the company achieved localization and strengthened after-sales services, enhancing competitiveness. Localized production also boosted downstream industries such as transfer equipment, pre-cleaning machines, and baling systems.
Second, the project supported industrial back-feeding into agriculture and promoted new rural construction. With 45 million mu of cotton fields nationwide, including 15 million in Xinjiang, the demand for cotton pickers is huge. Currently, only 7% of cotton is mechanized, with most machines imported. The 4MZ-5 costs about 1.2 million yuan, while imports range from 1.6 to 1.8 million yuan. Replacing all imports could save over 700 million yuan.
In recent years, labor shortages have worsened due to the “three rural†policies, leading to unharvested cotton and economic losses. The 4MZ-5 can cover 4,000 acres annually, equivalent to 600 workers, reducing production costs by 20%. Widespread use will ease labor-related social issues, improve public services, and boost the economy in ethnic minority regions.
To further promote the cotton picker autonomy project, future steps include: exempting import tariffs on key components, offering financial subsidies for domestic users, and establishing quality standards for machine-harvested cotton to enhance adoption and economic benefits.
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