Yimutian Inc. (YMT) shares rose Friday after the company rolled out a one-two punch of growth announcements: a substantial agricultural development project in southern China and plans to acquire a premium oil producer.

For a company focused on modernizing Chinese agriculture through digital platforms, this represents a significant expansion of both geographic footprint and product capabilities.

Smart Farming Comes to Guangdong

The larger of the two announcements involves a cooperation agreement to co-develop an integrated farmland project in Huazhou City, Guangdong Province. The project covers more than 21,000 mu, which translates to roughly 1,400 hectares of land.

Yimutian's role focuses on the technology side of the equation. The company will handle digital platforms, data systems, and AI-based agricultural tools designed to optimize farming operations. Local partners will tackle the physical work: land coordination, infrastructure development, and day-to-day execution on the ground.

The development strategy revolves around farmland consolidation, smart cultivation technology, and expanding the agricultural value chain. Planned improvements include soil enhancement, irrigation optimization, and better field connectivity.

On the technology front, Yimutian intends to deploy AI-powered systems for planting analytics, demand forecasting, and supply chain oversight. The company said the initiative will also support branded agricultural products and processing services.

This marks Yimutian's second integrated farmland project in Maoming City. An earlier initiative in Maonan District is already operational, bringing the company's total managed land to approximately 35,000 mu across the region.

Adding Premium Camellia Oil to the Portfolio

Separately, Yimutian announced a preliminary acquisition agreement with Hunan Jiufeng Agriculture Co., Ltd., a producer of premium camellia oil that operates a vertically integrated cultivation and processing operation.

Jiufeng brings substantial assets to the table. The target company has invested roughly 110 million Chinese yuan (approximately $15.85 million) in oil-tea plantations spanning nearly 30,000 mu. Beyond its own operations, Jiufeng also participates in a broader agricultural consortium managing more than 150,000 mu.

Yimutian plans to integrate its AI tools across Jiufeng's cultivation, manufacturing, and consumer distribution channels, applying the same technology-driven approach it's deploying in the Guangdong farmland project.

"Our long-term vision is to create a technology-driven agricultural ecosystem that connects production with consumption," said Jinhong Deng, chairman and CEO.

The transaction still needs to clear several hurdles, including due diligence, final agreements, and standard closing conditions.

YMT Price Action: Yimutian shares were up 3% at $1.85 during premarket trading on Friday.