[Poverty alleviation story] Xinjiang farmers turn into workers to process walnuts and count money every month
[Explanation] Right now, it is the walnut harvest season in Yecheng County, Xinjiang, the hometown of Chinese walnuts, and everyone here is busy working on this small fruit.
Fields, drying yards, and production plants, these front-line workers, who have been splendidly turned from farmers, are busy in the production process.
In the past, they were all farmers. In recent years, driven by the entire walnut industry chain in Yecheng County, they have bid farewell to the stretched days.
On September 18, outside of a walnut production cooperative in Yecheng County, Xinjiang, dozens of local villagers were sorting walnuts. A year ago, they were idle at home. One year later, they became walnuts that counted money in the morning, nine, five, and a month. Industrial workers.
In the summer of a year ago, Ayiguli joined the cooperative and became a worker in the walnut industry.
A year later, from class leader, team leader to workshop director, Ayiguli managed dozens of rural housewives like her.
The date of joining Ayiguli has a long memory in her heart. She told a reporter from China News Agency that this day is a moment of reversal in life.
[Concurrent] Ayiguli·Nyazmati, Workshop Director of Meiyelin Fruit Farmers Cooperative in Xincheng, Yecheng County, Xinjiang
I don’t think there is a stable salary. Is it for women or for everyone? It’s a little inconvenient, and it’s for farmers. Without money, nothing can be done.
I think it’s the best day to go to this factory, so I remember that date.
[Explanation] For Ayiguli, over a year's time, the harvest is more than just a middle management position and a steady income of nearly 3,000 yuan.
The money from "Le Punishment" is used to celebrate birthdays with the sisters. This has become the normal collective life in the factory. The sisters’ friendship has been brought closer through birthday parties. In the collective life, the sisters exchanged greetings with each other and felt the warmth of the big family.
In recent years, Yecheng County has promoted the deep processing of walnuts by building the entire walnut industry chain, which has given birth to "industrial fission."
"Eat and squeeze out walnuts" is a measure strongly promoted by the local government. From discarded branches and green peels to husks and kernels, busy workers have no time to take the reporter's shots into account.
In a production workshop that transformed from discarded fruit tree branches into modern household decorative panels, a busy scene rushed over. A batch of newly produced panels were immediately loaded and transported to major provinces in China.
The 23-year-old Kaidi Rea worked at the Timber Company for nearly 5 months and earned nearly 2,500 yuan a month.
She told a reporter from China News Agency that she felt at ease in counting money every month and felt that she had a very fulfilling day.
[Concurrent] Kaidi Reya Muhetar, an employee of a wood company in Yecheng County, Xinjiang
I didn’t have a job before, and when I didn’t work, our life was not very good. After I came to this factory in May for a month, it is almost there now. When it was released, it was more than 2,000. Our life is very good now.
[Explanation] From Kaidi Reya to Ayiguli, they are just the epitome of thousands of industrial workers in the whole walnut industry chain in Yecheng County.
Take the 60-person production plant in Ayiguli as an example. 60% of them are poor households with local files and cards, and more than half of the workers are housewives in the village.
When they walked out of their homes, they entered the factory. They played a small role in the walnut industry and worked for a better life.
[Concurrent] Kaidi Reya Muhetar, an employee of a wood company in Yecheng County, Xinjiang
After getting the salary, our family's life is particularly good. When the salary is paid, I buy a lot of beautiful clothes. My son and husband, we go to the park together.
[Concurrent] Ayiguli·Nyazmati, Workshop Director of Meiyelin Fruit Farmers Cooperative in Xincheng, Yecheng County, Xinjiang
There are jobs, and for women, we can spend a lot of money, so we are happy when we make money. Their lives have changed and they are very big.
[Explanation] A small fruit not only leverages the economic benefits of Yecheng County, but also brings hope of life to more people.
This energy that brings together many people is undergoing a huge "chemical reaction" in the local area.
Yecheng County is about 1,500 kilometers away from Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. In the Western Han Dynasty, it was the Western Night Country, one of the 36 countries in the Western Regions. In January 2019, Yecheng County was recognized as an advantageous area for agricultural products with Chinese characteristics.
Ji Jiangtong, Zhao Yamin, Li Mingfei reports from Yecheng County, Xinjiang
Editor in charge: [Tang Weijie]