Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Bai Sujun) news: On April 14, 2024, He Dagang, a villager from Arile Village in Barunhaermodun Town, Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, was busy with his work. He was seen welcoming tourists who came to pick strawberries, and then busy teaching neighboring villagers seedling and planting techniques. In his 38 greenhouses, vendors buying strawberries were busy loading their trucks.

Photo taken on April 14, 2024 shows Chen Yanlong shows Miaoxiang No. 7 strawberries that he has grown. Chen is a farmer from Arile Village in Barunhaermodun Town, Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Bai Sujun)

"In previous years, we used to hire vehicles to transport our strawberries to Korla City and Urumqi for sale. This year, traders and tourists flock to the fields to buy directly from us, and the demand is higher than we can supply," said He Dagang. Over the past few years, as the reputation of the strawberries grown by the villagers has spread, it's common for orders to come in even before the strawberries are fully ready for market.

He Dagang shared with reporter that he began cultivating strawberries in 2009, experimenting with over a dozen varieties before settling on the Miaoxiang No. 7 and Miaoxiang No. 9 as his main crops. His annual net income has reached three million yuan. Last year, he established the "Dagang" Strawberry Cooperative, which has helped more than a hundred villagers increase their income and get a well-off life. It has also attracted farmers from nearby villages like Haerwusu Village and Chaci Village to come and learn the planting techniques.

"Each plant is strictly monitored for technical and quality standards, and high-quality strawberries with local characteristics are cultivated according to the taste of consumers and local conditions," said Chen Yanlong, a grower in Arile Village. To ensure that the strawberries are delicious and pollution-free with large size and colorful appearance, growers must undergo strict technical training. Farmyard manure is collected and fermented for one month, and after decomposition, it is applied to the field in proportion. To prevent weeds and pests, plastic film is used for full coverage.

Yang Jianguo, the Party branch secretary of Arile Village in Barunhaermodun Town, said that Hejing County started guiding villages to plant strawberries in 1999. After the successful trial planting, villagers began to grow strawberries on a large scale. "Our village started to try strawberry planting in 2003, and now it has formed a strawberry base of about 21.33 hectares. At present, the “Shangyou" strawberry brand has become well-known throughout Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, contributing to the employment of 1,200 people.

Photo taken on April 14, 2024 shows Zhu Chongjun inspects the growth of strawberries in the greenhous in Barunhaermodun Town, Hejing County, Bayinhgolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Bai Sujun)

Zhu Chongjun, the director of the Agricultural and Pastoral Development Center of Barunhaermodun Town in Hejing County, said that technical personnel introduced strawberry seedlings from Shandong Province for trial planting in the fields. During this process, they repeatedly adjusted the soil and disease resistance of the strawberry, achieving self-propagation and planting.

"One reason why the strawberries in this town are delicious is that each year's strawberry seedlings are only planted once, and the field is changed the following year. Before the strawberries bloom, every household's greenhouse will be set a few boxes of bees for pollination. At peak times, the wholesale price of strawberries has reached 130 yuan per kilogram," he said. Currently, the town's strawberry cultivation has formed an industry, with each strawberry greenhouse generating a net profit of about 80,000 yuan.

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