ප්ලම් ගස් වලින් සල්ලි කඩන ෂින්ජියෑං

Prune processing industry become cash cows for farmers in Xinjiang

Prune plantation and processing industry supported by advanced technology has become cash cows for farmers in Jiashi County of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

In 2024, Jiashi County, the largest prune production center, has planted 38,000 hectares of plums. The output is expected to reach 350, 000 tons, increasing the per capita income of the county by another 2,100 U.S. dollars. The total production value of prunes is expected to reach more than 4.4 billion U.S. dollars next year.

The prune, with its variety of nutrients, has been attractive to many health-conscious consumers. The country has been cultivating and improving local plum varieties for decades. Nestled in the northeastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau, plum trees enjoy a unique combination of sunlight, heat, and sharp temperature contrasts between day and night, making the prunes grow superior to many imported varieties.

"Since 1996, we' ve introduced more than a dozen prune varieties, grafting them with local peach trees to develop the most suitable strains for Xinjiang," said Yang Sen, a researcher with Xinjiang University of Agricultural Science and Technology

"Our village has planted 200 hectares of prunes. This year's demand exceeds supply. Companies come directly to the village to concentrate on purchasing. We plan to plant another 20 hectares next year," said Alijiang Maimaiti, committee secretary of Tuziluke Village.

Prunes ripen in a short period from August to September and can be kept at room temperature for only about three to seven days and at low temperatures for up to two to three months, which used to limit the transportation and sale of the fruit.

In the local industrial park, Jiashi county has established a state-of-the-art packing system with support from Guangdong Province. Automated sorting, warehousing and cold-chain logistics make sure the fresh prunes reach consumers across China in top condition. Over 20 deep-processing enterprises have set up operations within the park, producing dried prunes, NFC pulp, and other value-added products.

Food science experts from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences are sent to the country to assist in the development of new products.

"Prunes are rich in antioxidants and promote digestion. We've introduced a research team to explore the health benefits of prunes and we plan to develop related health products in future," said Yang Jianguang, a staff member of Guangdong Supporting Xinjiang Working Group.

Supported by storage and logistics system and e-commerce, the country with fast growing prune industry is trying to expand its sales to a wider range.

• Tags:
• feature