Jujube Harvest Boosts Farmers’ Incomes in Xinjiang
The harvest of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) has begun in Ruoqiang County, in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, offering local farmers an opportunity to increase their incomes. More than 12,000 hectares of jujube trees are ready for harvesting this year.
Jujube is also grown in Turkmenistan, where the fruit is familiar to local residents. During the harvest season, it can often be found at markets in Ashgabat. The crop featured in this report on agricultural production in China is therefore also familiar to consumers in Turkmenistan.
Located on the edge of the Taklimakan Desert, Ruoqiang benefits from abundant sunshine and high temperatures, creating favorable conditions for jujube cultivation. The locally grown fruit is known for its high sugar content and distinctive taste.
During the harvest, farmers use wooden poles to knock ripe jujubes from the branches. The fruit is then dried in the sun, screened and sent for further processing.
According to local producers, jujube cultivation can generate more than 15,000 yuan per hectare. Wang Hui’s family, for example, cultivates 21 mu of land, equivalent to approximately 1.4 hectares. This year, the family expects to harvest around 10 tonnes of fruit, slightly more than last year.
To promote local produce, the county organizes annual exhibitions, market fairs and folk-culture events. These activities help expand sales channels, introduce the region’s products to consumers and support the development of the local industry.
According to CCTV+, favorable natural conditions, the experience of local growers and promotional activities are helping jujube cultivation remain an important part of Ruoqiang County’s agricultural sector while creating additional opportunities to increase farmers’ incomes.
