Xinjiang village turns wheat fields into profitable businesses

新疆村庄把麦田变成可盈利的产业

A machine harvests wheat in Yaozhanzi village, Qitai County, Changji Hui autonomous prefecture of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo provided by the Convergence Media Center of Qitai county)

在中国新疆维吾尔自治区西北部的昌吉回族自治州奇台县腰站子村，一台机器正在收割小麦。（奇台县融媒体中心供图）

In Yaozhanzi village, Qitai County, Changji Hui autonomous prefecture of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the early autumn sun bathes the vast fields. Under blue skies and white clouds, tractors shuttle across the land. Against a backdrop of clear blue skies, tractors crisscross the freshly harvested wheat land as preparations begin for the next planting season. Within days, winter wheat will take root here, awaiting another bumper harvest.

在中国新疆维吾尔自治区西北部的昌吉回族自治州奇台县腰站子村，初秋的阳光沐浴着广袤的田野。蓝天白云下，拖拉机穿梭在大地上。在晴朗天空下，拖拉机在刚收获的麦地上纵横交错，为下一个种植季节做准备。再过几天，冬小麦就将在这里生根发芽，等待又一次丰收。

"All this vast land is under my management!" said Gao Qi, a skilled grower and lead manager of wheat farming in the village, pointing to the expansive fields before him.

“这片广袤的土地都是我管理的！”种植能手、村里小麦种植领头人高琦指着眼前广阔的田地说。

A decade ago, farmland in the village was fragmented and yields were low, leaving farmers with meager incomes. This changed in 2009 when Yaozhanzi village established the Fengyu Agricultural Services Cooperative. The initiative consolidated village farmland into unified plots, enrolling all 443 households as members. Farmers now receive land transfer fees and annual dividends alongside wages.

十年前，村里农田零散，产量低，农民收入微薄。这种情况在2009年发生了变化，当时腰站子村成立了丰裕农业服务合作社。该举措将村庄的农田整合为统一的地块，把所有443户家庭都登记为成员。农民现在除了领取工资外，还领取土地出让金和年度分红。

With land consolidated, modern agricultural technology has rapidly taken root. From BeiDou satellite-guided sowing to drone-based crop protection, the entire farming process in Yaozhanzi has been mechanized. Today, 160,000 mu (10,667 hectares) of wheat and other crops are cultivated using green farming methods. This year, the village's wheat yields reached 680 kilograms per mu.

随着土地得到整合，现代农业技术迅速扎根。从北斗卫星引导播种到基于无人机的农作物保护，腰站子村的耕种实现了全程机械化。如今，16万亩（10,667公顷）的小麦和其他作物使用绿色耕作方法种植。今年，全村小麦亩产达到680公斤。

By promoting large-scale, intensive, and science-based farming practices, Xinjiang's grain production has undergone a transformation, from manual labor to mechanization and to smart agriculture. In 2024, Xinjiang's average grain yield rose to 524.8 kilograms per mu, the highest in China. Between 2022 and 2024, the region achieved a net grain outflow of 14.17 million tons, ranking among the country's seven major grain-exporting regions.

通过推广规模化、集约化、科学化的耕作方式，新疆的粮食生产经历了一场变革，从手工劳动迈向机械化，再到智慧农业。2024年，新疆粮食平均单产升至524.8公斤/亩，为全国最高。2022年至2024年间，该地区实现粮食净流出1417万吨，位居全国七大粮食出口地区之列。

Photo shows a noodle-making workshop in Yaozhanzi village, Qitai County, Changji Hui autonomous prefecture of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo provided by the Convergence Media Center of Qitai county)

图为新疆维吾尔自治区昌吉回族自治州奇台县腰站子村的面条制作作坊。（奇台县融媒体中心供图）

Building on large-scale wheat farming, the village began pursuing higher quality and efficiency. In 2017, Yaozhanzi village founded Fengyi Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., aiming to create a full "farm-to-table" industrial chain. By expanding into specialty food processing, wheat is now transformed locally into value-added products, with more than 40 varieties across four categories under the "Yaozhanzi" brand.

在大规模种植小麦基础上，该村开始追求更高的质量和效率。2017年，腰站子村创办丰益农业发展有限公司，旨在打造“从农场到餐桌”全产业链。通过拓展特色食品加工，小麦现已在当地转化为增值产品，“腰站子”品牌下有40多个品种，共四大类。

Inside the flour processing workshop, the rich aroma of wheat fills the air. The use of high-quality wheat ensures consistent flour quality, gaining growing popularity among consumers. The mill now processes 36 tons of flour each day.

面粉加工车间内，浓郁的麦香在空气中弥漫。面粉使用优质小麦确保质量稳定，受到越来越多消费者的欢迎。这家工厂现在每天加工36吨面粉。

This green industrial chain has boosted farmers' income. "Last year, my household earned 80,000 yuan ($11,245) of land transfer fees, and plus wages, our annual income topped 200,000 yuan," Gao said.

这条绿色产业链带动了农民增收。“去年，我家的土地出让金收入8万元（合11245美元），加上工资，我们的年收入超过了20万元，”高说。

Nestled at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains and adjacent to the Jiangbulake scenic area, Yaozhanzi village enjoys distinct seasonal landscapes and profound farming culture. Waves of golden wheat swaying in the breeze attract tourists, while shaded village roads and clean, tidy courtyards highlight its livable environment. Leveraging its ecological advantages, the village is actively developing rural tourism.

腰站子村坐落在天山山脉脚下，毗邻江布拉克风景区，四季景观分明，农耕文化底蕴深厚。微风中摇曳的金色麦浪吸引着游客，而成荫的村道、干净整洁的院落则彰显着其宜居环境。该村发挥生态优势，积极发展乡村旅游。

The village hosts a "wheat museum." In the museum, a staff member rolled out dough, shaped it like a bun, sealed it with a straw, and blew it into a ball the size of a basketball. "This is made with our organic flour - only flour with strong gluten can be blown up like this," the staff member explained.

村庄设立了一个“小麦博物馆”。馆内，一名工作人员将面团擀开，做成包子状，用吸管密封，吹成篮球大小的球。“这是用我们的有机面粉做的，只有面筋强的面粉才能吹成这样，”工作人员解释道。

The 520-square-meter museum showcases how wheat transforms from seed to flour, as well as the process of making hand-pulled noodles, through exhibits, photos, immersive displays, and multimedia presentations. Visitors not only can admire the wheat fields but also experience traditional farming culture firsthand.

520平方米的博物馆通过展品、照片、沉浸式展示和多媒体演示，展示了小麦如何从种子转化为面粉，以及制作手擀面的过程。游客不仅可以欣赏麦田，还可以亲身体验传统农耕文化。

Tourists visit the "wheat museum" in Yaozhanzi village, Qitai County, Changji Hui autonomous prefecture of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo provided by the Convergence Media Center of Qitai county)

游客在中国新疆维吾尔自治区西北部昌吉回族自治州奇台县腰站子村参观“小麦博物馆”。（奇台县融媒体中心供图）

Tourist attractions such as themed homestays, petting zoos, and flower fields with straw scarecrows have also flourished. Dozens of households have renovated their idle houses into guest lodgings. On weekends, most homestays are fully booked. Today, over 1/3 of the villagers are engaged in tourism businesses. In the first seven months of this year alone, the village received 153,900 tourists.

主题民宿、宠物园、稻草人花田等旅游景点也蓬勃发展起来。几十户人家把闲置的房子改造成了民宿。一到周末，大多数民宿都订满了。如今，超过1/3的村民从事旅游生意。今年前7个月，该村就接待游客达15.39万人次。

From a single grain of wheat, Yaozhanzi village has written a big story of rural prosperity. In 2024, the village achieved a total output value of 510 million yuan, with collective village income reaching 5.04 million yuan. The village's journey mirrors the broader story of Xinjiang's agricultural growth and strength.

从一粒小麦开始，腰站子村谱写了乡村致富的大故事。2024年，全村实现总产值5.1亿元，村集体收入达504万元。这个村庄的变化反映了新疆农业发展壮大的故事。

In recent years, Xinjiang has focused on building itself into a major national base for high-quality agricultural and livestock products, advancing comprehensive rural vitalization and accelerating the development of modern agriculture.

近年来，新疆着力打造全国优质农畜产品基地，推进乡村全面振兴，加快发展现代农业。

The region has set nine national records in large-scale yields of wheat and corn, and established China's first million-mu-level corn "ton-grain field," meaning farmland capable of producing 1,000 kilograms of grain per mu annually. Xinjiang also continues to lead the five northwestern provincial-level regions in aquaculture output, while the growth of rural residents' per capita disposable income ranks second nationwide.

该地区在小麦和玉米大规模产量方面创造了9项全国纪录，并建立了中国首个百万亩级玉米“吨粮田”，即每年每亩可生产1000公斤粮食的农田。新疆在水产养殖产量方面也继续领跑西北五大省级地区，而农村居民人均可支配收入增长在全国居于第二位。