China News Service, Urumqi, February 22 (Tao Shuanke) At present, as the temperature picks up, spring wheat in southern Xinjiang has started to flow one after another, and the fields are in a busy situation. In the past 2024, Xinjiang's grain output has continued to grow, ranking first in the country.

For a long time, Xinjiang's traditional impression of dry climate, sparse precipitation and fragile ecology seem to be far from the title of "granary". However, in the past 10 years, Xinjiang's grain planting area has increased by 8.825 million mu, accounting for 34.8% of the national increase; the cumulative increase in grain output has exceeded 10 billion jin, accounting for 25.1% of the national increase, becoming the province with the largest increase in grain capacity in the country.

The rapidly rising new "granary" data shows that since 2015, Xinjiang's grain production has continued to rise and it is increasing every year. In 2023, Xinjiang's total grain production exceeded 20 million tons, and it can even achieve "area surplus and supply to the country", becoming the province and region with the largest production and sales balanced production and sales volume that can be adjusted.

In 2024, Xinjiang's grain planting area was 44.4 million mu, with 2.029 million mu, with an increase of 4.22 billion jin of grain output and a total output of 46.6 billion jin. The grain yield per unit was 1,050 jin, and it jumped to the first place in the country, becoming a rapidly rising "western granary".

Technology empowers: the "smart brain" of modern agriculture

In Xinjiang, science and technology are profoundly changing the landscape of agricultural production. The application of intelligent integrated water and fertilizer irrigation system allows crops to "precisely" drink water and fertilize.

In the field of agriculture, new technologies are being used more and more widely. Farmers can understand the soil humidity, fertility and other information in real time through sensors, smart electric valves and other equipment arranged in the fields, and conduct precise controls based on the growth needs of crops.

In 2024, the wheat yield of Qitai Farm located in Changji Prefecture set a national record of large-scale high yield, which is inseparable from technological support. From selecting and breeding excellent varieties to scientific dense planting technology, to the promotion and popularization of a series of technologies such as efficient water-saving irrigation and water-fertilizer integration, they all play an important role in high grain yields.

For example, the winter wheat variety "Xin Grain 169", selected by Xinjiang agricultural enterprises and scientific research teams, broke through the bottleneck limitations of high yields and difficult high yields in breeding, and successfully achieved the ability to "fill more grain" and "fill good grain", providing strong variety guarantees for the increase in the production of new grain sources.

Water resource optimization: The "life water source" of farmland

Water is the lifeblood of Xinjiang's agricultural development. In the past, due to the drought and lack of water resources, it became an important factor restricting the development of Xinjiang's agricultural development. Today, Xinjiang coordinates the allocation and utilization of water resources from the entire district level.

In 2024, Xinjiang will continue to increase scientific and efficient dispatch of water resources, adhere to the coordinated efforts of water conservation, storage, water diversion and water increase, and scientifically optimize the allocation of water resources. Not only has the cumulative agricultural water supply of 56.008 billion cubic meters, 312 million cubic meters more than the previous year, but a lot of water-deficient fallow land has been replanted and replanted.

In Oasis Agricultural Area, Xinjiang has improved the efficiency of water resource utilization through measures such as building water conservancy facilities and promoting water-saving irrigation technology, so that limited water resources can play a greater benefit. At the same time, localities are also actively exploring water-saving methods such as sewage reuse and rainwater storage to further alleviate the tension in water resources.

Policy support: "solid support" for grain growers

In recent years, Xinjiang has attached great importance to food security issues, and governments at all levels have introduced a series of support policies to provide solid guarantees for grain growers. Economically, in 2024, Xinjiang coordinated 21.43 billion yuan to support the construction of high-standard farmland, planting subsidies, purchase of agricultural machinery and equipment, breeding of good seeds, industrial development, etc. The investment of these funds provides strong financial support for agricultural production and solves the worries of farmers.

In terms of policy incentives, Xinjiang implements a reward policy for major grain-producing counties to fully mobilize the enthusiasm for grain cultivation. Local governments have introduced specific measures to encourage farmers to grow grain, such as giving certain rewards to large grain growers and providing technical training and guidance. The implementation of these policies not only improves farmers' income levels, but also ensures stable grain production.

At the same time, Xinjiang firmly grasps the political responsibility of food security, regards arable land protection and construction as the top priority, and vigorously strengthens the construction of high-standard farmland. In 2024, Xinjiang has newly renovated 4.34 million mu of high-standard farmland, and a total of 59.89 million mu have been built, accounting for 72.8% of the permanent basic farmland. The area of ​​efficient water conservation and integrated water and fertilizer in the fields is 72.89 million mu, accounting for more than 69% of the arable land area, and the foundation of agricultural production is continuously consolidated.

In Korla City, the originally low-yield fields have been transformed into "ton grain fields" and "drip irrigation fields", and the grain output has increased significantly.

Ecological protection: "Green guarantee" of agriculture

As grain production continues to increase, Xinjiang has not ignored the importance of ecological protection. Actively promote green agricultural technologies and models in agricultural production, reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and protect soil and water sources.

In Pishan County, all Trichosanthes seeds grown by Anhui enterprises aiding Xinjiang use farm fertilizers and biological pest control technology, which not only improves the quality of agricultural products, but also effectively reduces agricultural non-point source pollution.

In addition, Xinjiang has achieved coordinated development of agricultural production and ecological protection through the development of ecological agriculture and circular agriculture. In terms of wetlands and grassland protection, Xinjiang has implemented a series of ecological protection measures, such as wetland ecological water replenishment projects, returning farmland to wetlands, and restoration of vegetation, to effectively improve the health status of wetland ecosystems.

Xinjiang also promotes the transformation and upgrading of grassland animal husbandry through grassland ecological protection subsidy and reward policies to ensure the coordinated development of grassland ecology and animal husbandry economy.

These ecological protection measures not only provide a good ecological barrier for agricultural production, but also lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development of Xinjiang, truly achieving a win-win situation between ecological and economic benefits.