Green organic cultivation of "Big Red Tomato" in Inner Mongolia: farmers have no worries about sales

Walking into the logistics workshop of Xinming Agricultural Cooperative in Baotou City, Inner Mongolia, a large spread of red tomatoes is very eye-catching. Workers skillfully wrap each tomato in wax paper and pack them neatly into boxes. It feels as if the small tomatoes are wrapped like "little apples." A 3-liang "red tomato" has become a "golden egg" in the eyes of farmers.

"Our tomatoes are mainly sold to Chengdu, Guangzhou, Changsha and other places, and wrapping them in wax paper can keep the tomatoes fresh for 40 hours, making long-distance transportation convenient. In July and August, the tomatoes we produce locally exactly fill the gap in the other markets and fetch a good price." Cooperative head Wu Xinming told reporters: "Right now tomatoes are 8 mao per jin, and the specific price follows the market. In past years the highest was 1.2 yuan. However much we produce, they want that much, so there is really no worry about sales! Calculating on the basis of an average output of 15,000 jin per greenhouse, 500 greenhouses means 7.5 million jin; at 8 mao per jin, that is 6 million, and after deducting costs, the annual benefit is still quite good!"

In 2010, Xinyingzi Village began developing green organic cultivation of "Big Red Tomato." From the initial 50 to today's 500 tomato cultivation greenhouses, from initially running around everywhere to find businesses to "sell," to now businesses coming from south and north to the door to "buy," the information exchange platform has played a big role. "We 'took a fancy to' this tomato at the 2011 Agricultural Expo. From late July to mid-September every year, we come to Tumd Right Banner specifically to buy tomatoes." Wang Bin, a businessperson from Chengdu, told reporters: "We produce to order, guarantee supply of goods, do not worry about sales, and the profit in between is also good. When the market is good, it can sell for more than 2 yuan per jin; when a little worse, it still sells for 1.4 yuan per jin. We and the farmers have mutual benefit and achieve a win-win."

Wang Ying, a 58-year-old villager of Xinyingzi Village, has children who work away from home year-round to accompany them in school, leaving the old couple living in the village to farm. "My family planted 4 mu of corn, and an annual income of three or four thousand is considered not bad. In 2011, my wife and I came to work at the cooperative, each earning more than 2,000 per month. Over a year, the old couple earned more than 40,000 yuan. Life is much easier, and we can also help the children. It does not get in the way of farming our own land, and we earn some good money while staying at home." Wang Ying told reporters: "At our cooperative, basically people my age are doing the work. During the busy farming season there are more than 140-160 people. Otherwise, where could we people in our fifties and sixties go to work and earn this much?"

Besides 500 tomato cultivation greenhouses, Xinyingzi Village has also developed green fruit and vegetable cultivation. The 90 fruit and vegetable greenhouses are also especially eye-catching. "In these 90 greenhouses we grow fruits and vegetables that are relatively scarce on the market all year round, such as winter watermelon and muskmelon. Of course, tomatoes are still the main role. Although it is off-season, we use green cultivation and all organic fertilizer. The workers and greenhouses do not stop all year round." Wu Xinming introduced: "In recent years the returns have been good. Next we want to further expand the cultivation scale and absorb more of our local surplus labor. While increasing our own income and becoming better off, we want the elders and fellow villagers to get rich along with us."

After the adjustment of the rural industrial structure, the vigorous development of the industry promotes increased income for large farmers. After large farmers' incomes increase, they expand the industrial scale and transfer more rural surplus labor. When farmers become rich, it promotes the development of the local economy, and economic development in turn brings large farmers better and more conditions for production and becoming rich. Once the circular chain is set in motion, farmers' dream of becoming rich has also begun!