In the new era, one of the most remarkable developments in southern Xinjiang is the transformation of deserts into productive farmland, and this achievement is backed by strong technological support from Shanghai. Recently, reporters ventured deep into the desert in Yaka'erike Township, Shache County, Kashgar Region. At the agricultural technology project base operated by the Green Technology Bank (Shanghai) Agricultural Technology Company, the morning breeze was cool, greenery thrived, and cotton and alfalfa were growing vigorously. From satellite imagery, several neat green circles are visible, each covering between 620 and 680 mu with diameters ranging from 720 to 760 meters. On the deserts and Gobi expanses of Kashgar, the Shanghai aid-Xinjiang team has established an integrated demonstration project for sustainable desert agriculture. This August, the second phase of the Yaka'erike Township project, covering 6,000 mu, will break ground, and upon completion, the nearly 10,000-mu oasis will form a green barrier along the edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Shache County has already signed an agreement with the Green Technology Bank to manage 100,000 mu of Gobi and desert land within two years, adding 100,000 mu of reserve farmland. Liu Sha, deputy general manager of the Green Technology Bank, stated that the goal is to embed the "technology + market + ecology" model in southern Xinjiang, fostering a cadre of local technical talent and business operators. At the same time, this initiative aims to position Chinese agricultural technology as a flagship for the "Belt and Road" initiative, offering China's solutions to global desertification challenges. Notably, the technologies validated in southern Xinjiang have already been exported to Dubai in the UAE, where crops have completed full growth cycles and achieved preliminary success.

Turning Gobi into Productive Land

In 2023, the Green Technology Bank signed a lease agreement with Shache County to develop 1,400 mu of sandy land. With 4 days of land preparation, 2 days of sowing, and seedlings emerging in 10 days, they achieved the remarkable speed of "transforming a thousand mu in ten days." In 2024, the Green Technology Bank leased 8,500 mu of Gobi land in Yaka'erike Township, Shache County, completing the first-phase renovation of 2,000 mu within 3 months, with crops such as alfalfa, rapeseed, and watermelon harvested that same year. Gobi sand has excessive porosity, making it difficult to retain water and nutrients. The Green Technology Bank employed its core technology of biomass soil activation (SBT). The formula's lignin enhances soil cohesion, silk protein retains moisture, and actinomycetes preserve nutrients while suppressing diseases. The biomass substrate is 100% biodegradable, and a single application awakens the soil's own metabolic cycle, restoring its productivity. After treatment, the land's water retention and fertilizer-holding capacity improve by 30% to 50%. The process involves first using heavy machinery to dig 30 centimeters deep and remove stones, then uniformly mixing the biomass substrate with sand before backfilling, and finally selecting drought-resistant, stress-tolerant crops like alfalfa and wild jujube for planting. On satellite images, a pointer-like line extends from the center of each green circle—that is the sprinkler irrigation system, which sprays pressurized water into the air to create a fine mist, ensuring even water distribution across the field. Last year, the Gobi base produced 1 ton of dry alfalfa per mu and was recognized as a high-quality forage planting base; the desert base trial-planted oil sedge, yielding 400 kilograms per mu, a high output for first-year planting in the region. Some crop root systems even reached depths of 2 meters. Wang Junfeng, the base manager, noted, "In the first year, local people were skeptical. When plants grew, some thought it was a costly vanity project. In the second year, as we continued to harvest, their doubts began to ease. By the third year, people started asking if they could lease the land, which shows we've earned their trust."

Land Brings Hope

Beyond land remediation, the project base integrates cutting-edge technologies including integrated water-fertilizer smart irrigation, mechanized cultivation and harvesting, ecological protection, environmental simulation, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things. This site serves as a testing ground for academic achievements from institutions like Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, as well as a venue for top national experts to conduct research. The project focuses on talent development through three approaches: first, "bringing in"—regularly inviting university experts to teach farmers and young technicians; second, "sending out"—selecting outstanding youth for further study at Shanghai universities and enterprises; and third, "mentoring"—with each Shanghai technical backbone training several local apprentices. Keysaer Yasen, a digital agriculture engineer here, previously studied at an inland Xinjiang high school class and majored in computer science. After graduation, he had the opportunity to stay inland but chose to return home. Leveraging his computer science background, he led the development of an automated program to identify alfalfa pests, which, using the base's multispectral cameras, achieves an accuracy rate of about 95%. In the past, young people from Shache aspired to move inland, feeling that opportunities at home were limited. Now, with cutting-edge technology platforms right at their doorstep and room to showcase their talents, more and more young people are choosing to return. Keysaer Yasen remarked, "I feel that transforming the desert is a truly great cause."

Expanding into Secondary and Tertiary Industries

Desertification control has endowed the wasteland with ecological and agricultural value, but those involved are not stopping there—they seek even greater benefits. One avenue is the deep integration of agriculture with manufacturing, processing primary products to connect with markets and increase added value. The Green Technology Bank has introduced two-row barley germplasm resources, a key ingredient for brewing beer and whiskey. Currently, samples of "desert whiskey" have been successfully trial-produced. Wang Junfeng said, "I've tasted it, and it's quite good. Come back next year, and I'll treat you." Additionally, economic crops adapted to the local environment, such as wild jujube and pistachios, are also being trial-planted. Another avenue is expanding into the service industry, with precedents in other Shanghai aid-Xinjiang projects. Heishuiying in Yima Township, Zepu County, once a "no-man's land" at the intersection of three administrative villages, suffered from severe land desertification and was used as a garbage dump. Local officials led villagers in clearing waste, planting poplars, and integrating water systems and desert resources to build a park, supported by Shanghai aid-Xinjiang funds. This year, Yima Township invited a local celebrity to hold a concert, attracting over a thousand spectators. On the day of the concert, one villager sold 11 whole roasted sheep. Wang Junfeng mentioned that foreign clients have inquired about desertification control technology, wanting to grow a lawn in the desert. In arid deserts, having a beautiful lawn is a luxury and a status symbol. In China, however, desertification control serves the interests of the broadest masses. Ensuring that people enjoy a sound ecological environment, have employment, income, and a happy life—that is the ultimate goal of desertification control.