Tianshannet-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Zhang Zhili, Correspondent Deng Lijuan) news: “I want to work for another 30 years. By that time, the sea buckthorn industry in Wushi County will have grown larger, and the smiles of the farmers will surely be as radiant as the sea buckthorn itself.” On December 18, Adiljan Abdusalam, a technician from Yuanmai Agriculture, Forestry and Animal Husbandry Development Company in Wushi County, expressed his optimistic vision at the sea buckthorn breeding center in the county’s Akya Town.

Adiljan, who is currently 36 years old, grew up in the Wushi County town. Until the winter of 2020, he had never considered cultivating land, without mentioning planting sea buckthorn on the Gobi Desert.

Adiljan Abdusalam checks the growth of sea buckthorn in Wushi County, Aksu Prefecture, northwest northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Wang Guoliang)

In November 2020, for various reasons, Adiljan decided to leave his business behind and applied for a position at Yuanmai. His first role in this company was an irrigation technician at Pump House No. 8 in Yakeruke Township, responsible for watering a 1200-mu (80-hectare) sea buckthorn forest.

“At that time, some of my friends and former classmates said I was making things difficult for myself. However, just like these sea buckthorn saplings which must withstand the wind and sand in order to survive, we must endure challenges and persevere as well. I was determined to excel in this job and make something of it,” recalled Adiljan.

To ensure every sapling can be irrigated, Adiljan spent 7 hours each time watering the plants. He took two days to figure out the condition of each plot and the location of every valve.

Three months later, Adiljan’s diligent and responsible work, coupled with his growing expertise led to a promotion to business manager. The pump houses he managed increased from one to eight. Seeing how this man gave up city life to find contentment in his work in the countryside, young people from nearby villages felt greatly motivated. Soon, Adiljan formed a team of skilled technicians for sea buckthorn cultivation and management. Inspired by him, more and more young people developed an interest in sea buckthorn cultivation and helped to make their home green.

Jiangsu merchants inspect the development of sea buckthorn industry in Wushi County, Aksu Prefecture, northwest northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Wang Guoliang)

Recognizing the ecological benefits of sea buckthorn, such as erosion control, windbreak, sand fixation, and soil improvement, Wushi County has scaled up the cultivation of the plant in recent years. Several sea buckthorn processing enterprises have established branches here, and forestry experts from both within and outside Xinjiang have been invited to share their knowledge. Additionally, a selected group of professionals have been sent to participate in learning programs at industrial parks and leading enterprises in the provinces and cities in pairing assistance programs with Xinjiang.

As one of the company’s promising talent, Adiljan has learned various techniques, including seedling cultivation, plantation management, use of UAVs in pesticide application, and deep processing.

“Zhao Ying, the ‘sea buckthorn doctor’ from the Xinjiang Academy of Forestry, and our company’s chairman, Wang Guoliang, are both experts in sea buckthorn. They are also my mentors. In total, I have learned from seven experts. Moreover, I have trained 88 apprentices, and among them, 10 have become business managers. Since I worked in the company, I have created employment opportunities for nearly 150 people,” said Adiljan.

Currently, the company where Adiljan works has planted sea buckthorn over a vast area of 4,200 hectares. This endeavor has transformed the once barren Gobi region along the Toshkan River into a flourishing oasis, boasting a remarkable vegetation coverage rate of over 70%.

It takes three years to transplant a sea buckthorn seedling from a greenhouse to the Gobi and for it to flower and bear fruit. Over the past three years, Adiljan has witnessed the entire growth process of the sea buckthorn.

“Seeing sea buckthorn is like seeing a reflection of myself. In their presence, I have also grown over the past three years. I have developed a stronger fondness for this plant because it represents the journey of life. It begins as something plain and ordinary, grows vibrant green leaves symbolizing hope, and eventually bears golden fruits which symbolize the fulfillment of dreams,” he said. In these years, individuals like him have found jobs they truly love at every link of the sea buckthorn industry chain. By cultivating and protecting these plants, they have achieved their dreams.

Adiljan’s team currently manages a 350,000-mu (2,333-hectare) sea buckthorn orchard. He has developed a daily routine of driving to the orchard and finding great satisfaction in seeing the sea buckthorn growing well. In addition, the company has launched a range of products made with sea buckthorn, including sea buckthorn oil (in oral solution or capsule form), sea buckthorn puree, sea buckthorn and tomato composite juice, and sea buckthorn facial masks. These products have gained popularity and are selling well in various provinces across the country. Adiljan hopes with the opening of the border port at Biedieli, sea buckthorn can become a symbol that helps people gain a better understanding of the county.