Beijing Review Exclusive
Mechanized cotton-picking in Xinjiang turns to domestic solutions
"Xinjiang's three main industries are cotton, tomatoes and coal. We are working to provide tailored solutions based on local needs," Song Lixin, leader of CRCHI Xinjiang,told Beijing Review.
By Li Fangfang  ·  2021-05-27  ·   Source: Web Exclusive

 

Workers at the cotton press machine plant of China Railway Construction Heavy Industrial Corp. Xinjiang Co.Ltd.(LI FANGFANG)

The mechanization of cotton-picking started as early as 2001 in Xinjiang, but really took off in 2009, Fang Xu, post-sales manager for the cotton-picking machine division of the China Railway Construction Heavy Industrial Corp. (CRCHI) Xinjiang Co. Ltd., told Beijing Review.  

Fang serves clients from cooperatives or private cotton farms across the region. Farmers usually pay 140 yuan ($22) per mu (0.165 acre) for the machine’s rental. But with manual labor, one mu needs four workers, costing 150 yuan ($23.5) per person at least, which means a saving of more than 75 percent.  

CRCHI’s cotton-picking machines entered Xinjiang in 2019. Before that, imported machines dominated the market. "About 90 percent of the cotton-picking machines were imported,” Fang said. “But domestic brands have boomed in recent years. The market is really positive and growing fast."  

 

A cotton-picking machine at the plant of China Railway Construction Heavy Industrial Corp. Xinjiang Co.Ltd.(LI FANGFANG)

The main advantage of domestic produced cotton-picking machines, according to Fang, is the 24/7 post-sales service made possible with remote monitoring equipment in the machine that can be monitored on a mobile phone in real time.  

CRCHI Xinjiang has a coordinated plan with its localized production base to take full advantage of Xinjiang’s unique environment.   

"Xinjiang's three main industries are cotton, tomatoes and coal. We are working to provide tailored solutions based on local needs," Song Lixin, leader of CRCHI Xinjiang, told Beijing Review.  

(Reporting from Xinjiang) 

Copyedited by Lee Perkins  

Comments to lifangfang@bjreview.com  

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