Fruits Farming & Infrastructure Investments

As we crossed parts of Southern Xinjiang over the next few days, we were captivated by the beautiful, but often harsh landscape. It is no wonder that along with the Tibetan and Mongolian Steppes, Xinjiang is reputed to be one of the harshest regions in the world. Thousands of years of erosion by wind and rain had left deep scars that cut into steep, bare mountains, leaving behind jagged that form a natural barrier.

For years now, desertification has been a main concern for China. But we are delighted to see that with technology and careful farming methods, farmers are reclaiming once barren desert land for fruit orchards. After munching through countless peaches, nectarines, water melons at every farmers' houses, we can say with some authority that the fruits from Xinjiang are among the best we've tasted anywhere around the world, and they definitely live up to the premium status they enjoy in China.

But the challenge of bringing these produce to the markets - even within China - is something which the Central government is definitely working on.

"In Eastern and Central China, in one day, you can cover 500 to 600 kilometres and that will be several provinces. But here, we need to drive three days before we're out of Xinjiang. And the situation is worse for railways. So we need more support from the government, through the One Belt and One Road initiative, to improve infrastructure and lower costs," said Mr Guo Wei, Deputy Governor of the Wensu County People's Government.

Similarly, vineyards have also helped to push the deserts back. The successes we saw was by no means a complete victory against desertification, because elsewhere, reports say over grazing had stripped some grasslands, with severe effects on the environment. But the successes here may offer some suggestions which other places can consider.

One such change is moving from grains and cotton, to lucrative cash crops like fruits. A growing middle class across the country, with a growing sense of healthy living, have combined to create a huge demand for fruits, which have become a necessity in Chinese diets. The good news is diversification for the agricultural sector, and increasing income for farmers.

According to a China Daily report dated 15 July 2015, "farmers in northwest China's Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region, saw per capita annual income grow by 13.7 percent last year with the help of government support efforts'.

"The per capita net income rose to 8,296 yuan (US$1,340) for 2014," said Mr Bai Zhijie, a member of the Standing Committee of the Xinjiang Regional Committee. Speaking at an agricultural conference in Urumqi, he pointed out that this was the fourth year the annual income grew by around 1,000 yuan.

As income grew, the people's expectations will rose. High on the priority for many Chinese citizens, will the demand for a clean, convenient, living environment. In the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, we saw one of the most picturesque developments in China. Despite the harsh landscape, authorities had taken over formerly dirty river, cleaned it up, build it up with careful planning. Singaporeans will find the Korla's riverfront strangely familiar, very much like the Robertson Quay, Blarke Quay and Boat Quay district. Not surprising, as our hosts told us the Korla's Party Secretary had spent half a year in Singapore studying the island.