Written by: Luo Xiaoguang
Posted on: October 09, 2018 | 
| 中文
Cui Yongmin (third from left) demonstrates planting techniques to villagers in the greenhouse
“Tuniyaz, if you do not hang up the melon, it will fall to the ground.” “Tuerxun, such shoot tips must be pinched, or else there will be waste of nutritional ingredients of fertilizer.” This is how Cui Yongmin, a dark-skinned young man, patiently explains and demonstrates farming technologies to the Uygur villagers surrounding him in the greenhouses in Jinye, a village in the hinterland of desert in Hotan City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.
Jinye is a new village built on the southern edge of Taklamakan Desert by the local government for resettling needy families. Most of the villagers moved here from areas around Hotan City, in August 2017. Cui Yongmin serves as a technical instructor for vegetable greenhouses in this new village.
The 30-year-old man, who graduated from Hebei Agricultural University, is an agrotechnician of Xinjiang Shatian Agricultural Comprehensive Development Co., Ltd. and has been working in Hotan, for more than two years. Shatian is one of the enterprises in the pilot area of the National Agricultural Science and Technology Park of Hotan, Xinjiang. There are 30 featured agricultural demonstration projects for local development and promotion in the pilot area, such as those for strawberry, yogurt melon and asparagus. Nine expert groups from agriculture research institutions, including Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China Agricultural University and the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry, provide technical support for the park and help low-income families to get rid of poverty through the mode of “agricultural technology incubation + company + poor households.”
According to the requirements, enterprises that learned advanced technology in the park should promote it extensively outside the park by guiding farmers, especially the low-income families, in planting. They are also asked to help the farmers to sell and increase their income. What Cui does in Jinye Village is technical promotion outside the park.
The technical instructor says that the agricultural infrastructure has been relatively well-developed in Jinye. Now, each of more than 200 households in the village is allocated two greenhouses in contract. Cui is responsible for managing 50 of the greenhouses in which watermelons, muskmelons, tomatoes and other economic crops are planted.
Tuniyaz Abdukadir is one of the needy farmers who moved to the village. In the past, her family used to live on wages from cotton picking in other areas in autumn. Now, her family is allocated two greenhouses. Shatian Company provides “full trusteeship” assistance by using new technology and methods, thus freeing her from worries about planting, technology and sales. This year, Tuniyaz planted yogurt melon, a new variety of muskmelons in her greenhouse.
"Now the yield of melons in each greenhouse is about three tons. Our enterprise is responsible for part of the initial investment, and for providing production technology, fine varieties and market connections." Cui Yongmin says that currently the wholesale price of muskmelon is about five to eight yuan per kilo, while the retail price can reach 10 yuan per kilo. After the initial investment of the company is deducted, 60% of the pure profits go to the local villagers. It is conservatively estimated that the villagers’ annual net income from each greenhouse is more than 10,000 yuan.
Tuerxun Tuohuti Rouzi and his wife, who moved into the village at the same time as Tuniyaz, used to live on the minimum living allowance of 200 plus yuan per person per month, and life was very difficult. Now, the old couple have new hope: thanks to the instruction of Cui Yongmin, the melons in their two greenhouses are growing. Upon hearing that each of these greenhouses can produce at least 10,000 yuan of net income a year, Tuerxun was excited, "In the past, I could not even imagine having an income like this."
Although Cui can only speak some simple Uygur, it does not prevent him from communicating with the Uygur villagers. The agrotechnician works in the greenhouses every day, and has been recognized and loved by the villagers. Walking in the village, he is surrounded by villagers from time to time, asking their questions about melon and fruit cultivation.
The successful management of the 50 greenhouses made the technical instructor more confident. He plans to manage 50 more greenhouses in the second half of this year.
Just like many other experts engaged in protected agriculture, Cui thinks that although Hotan is located on the edge of the desert with tough natural conditions, it is also a place with abundant sunshine and heat resources, long frost-free period, sharp temperature difference between day and night, and dry and rainless climate, which is good for reducing diseases and pests. Moreover, there is almost no cloudy day in winter. Therefore, it has obvious advantages for developing protected agriculture.
"What is most lacking here are agricultural technical professionals," says the young man, who has majored in horticulture, and believes that there is much to be done here.
Cui plans to settle down in the village and continue to introduce and promote agricultural technology. "I believe the prospects of this place will become better and better," he says with a smile.
Translated by Xu Donglin
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