On October 25th, I had the opportunity to visit an agricultural demonstration site in the saline-alkali land of Shule County’s Tazihong Township in Kashgar, Xinjiang. The sight was striking: rows of vibrant winter wheat seedlings blanket the fields like a green carpet, showcasing the region’s vitality.

“We brought 14 different crop varieties to trial here in Shule County, aiming to identify which ones adapt best to the local soil,” said Chen Xiaoguang, a member of the 11th batch of aid talent from Dongying, Shandong.

Nearby, He Meixia, an expert from the Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Sciences, was measuring the soil’s temperature and moisture levels. “The wheat planted in this experimental field represents the main variety for the region. Our focus here is to evaluate the effectiveness of three salt-alkali land improvement techniques: organic fertilizers with microbial agents, salt-resistant foliar fertilizers, and slow-release fertilizers,” she explained.

Like Dongying, Shule County in southern Xinjiang is grappling with challenges such as poor soil and secondary salinization, which serve as significant bottlenecks for local agricultural development.

In response, the Dongying aid command has tailored its initiatives to the local context, leveraging Dongying’s strengths in saline-alkali land agriculture. They are establishing a modern agricultural experimental base in Shule County, part of the Yellow River Delta National Agricultural High-Tech Zone. This facility is designed with a “1+1+N” functional layout and aims to create a hub for modern agriculture in the west, develop a demonstration planting garden, and promote the cultivation of salt-resistant crops. The ultimate goal is to establish a resource center, demonstration base, and training facility for agricultural talent at this site, showcasing Dongying’s successful experience in using saline-alkali land effectively.

So, how can the comprehensive utilization strategy from Dongying be more effectively implemented in Shule? Project leader and Deputy Director of the Shule County Finance Bureau, Wang Tongjie, shared insights with us. “We’re utilizing the resources from the National Saline-Alkali Land Comprehensive Utilization Technology Innovation Center and the Kashgar testing station. By attracting top talent and expert research teams, we’re collaborating with local agricultural and technology departments to explore new technologies and models that align with regional realities.”

Additionally, Dongying aid efforts involve engaging agricultural leading enterprises and technical talent workstations to bring in experienced agronomists specializing in saline-alkali land rehabilitation. Their focus is on delivering specialized training and guidance to improve local farmers’ planting and breeding skills.

“We’ve been growing local wheat varieties for 30 years. This time, the technical team from Dongying not only introduced us to new technologies and seed varieties but also created new job opportunities in our village, significantly aiding our development,” said Aisikail Maimaitimin, the Party Secretary of Tazihong Township’s 17th village.

Wang Tongjie further emphasized that the future direction for Dongying’s assistance in Shule aims to achieve sustainable development of saline-alkali land. They plan to advance the comprehensive utilization of these lands through a tailored approach, promoting standardized, green, and branded agricultural sectors that support the high-quality development of modern agriculture in Shule County.