Hao Li, who grows black goji berries, has settled down in the Second Company of the Twelfth Regiment
Recently, the author visited the 53 newly built greenhouses of the Second Company of the Twelfth Regiment of the First Division of the **Production and Construction Corps. Among them, Hao Li took the lead in contracting 6 greenhouses, of which 2 greenhouses are used to cultivate Red Fuji apple seedlings, 2 greenhouses are used to cultivate pear seedlings, and 2 greenhouses are used to cultivate black goji berry seedlings, with a total investment of more than 300,000 yuan.
The dusty weather that lasted for several consecutive days made people feel no sign of spring. However, in Hao Li's black goji berry seedling greenhouse, it was a different scene full of green and as warm as spring. In Hao Li's black goji berry seedling greenhouse, the author met Hao Li. Hao Li, now in his fifties, is also a descendant of Corps members. He is shrewd and capable, and does things efficiently. He once opened automobile modification factories in Aksu, Kuqa and other places. Having gone through ups and downs, with extraordinary courage and boldness, he embarked on the road to prosperity.
In 2015, the Party Committee and trade union of the Twelfth Regiment strongly supported employees in developing self-operated economies, gave play to the geographical advantage of the Second Company being close to the Ahe and Atu highways, and built 53 new greenhouses beside the road of the Second Company. Each greenhouse covers an area of 1.2 mu. The regiment farm encouraged company employees to contract them. Hao Li took the lead in contracting 6 greenhouses. Hao Li finally found a goodentrepreneurial project-- growing black goji berries.
Because he had no planting experience, Hao Li, with the support and help of the regiment trade union, actively participated in planting technology training classes held by the regiment. Usually, he also looked up information online. He learned that black goji berry is a wild plant tolerant of cold, drought and salinity, rich in anthocyanins, with good health care value and medicinal value, and demand for it is growing rapidly at home and abroad. It is known as "soft gold", and market demand is large. Three years after planting, black goji berries will enter the full production period, with an output of 150 jin to 300 jin per mu. Growing black goji berries in ** has suitable soil and climate, and management is simple, returns are high, and results are quick. He believed that developing the black goji berry industry has broad prospects and great potential, and is a new way to increase income and become prosperous.
"Look, it has been only three months since manual sowing, and the average height is already more than 40 cm, and the best-growing ones have already exceeded 50 cm. This is thanks to the technicians at the forestry station. If they had not taught us hand by hand how to do field management well, I estimate that these tens of thousands of black goji berry seedlings would have been wasted." Hao Li said excitedly. "At present, these black goji berry seedlings are still in their 'infancy'. Although they have not grown up yet, their economic benefits have already been recognized by the market." Pointing to the neat rows of black goji berry seedlings behind him, Hao Li calculated an account for the author: 130,000 black goji berry seedlings, sold at 2 yuan each, would bring considerable returns. Hao Li's successful cultivation of black goji berry seedlings marks the success of seedling raising and laid the foundation for employees of the regiment farm to start businesses and increase income in the future.
Hao Li told the author: "Because pesticides are never sprayed in the greenhouse, the weeds grow relatively lushly. If pesticides were sprayed, besides affecting the quality of black goji berries, it would also pollute the soil environment. We all rely on manual labor to clear the weeds." The author saw that the black goji berry seedlings were divided into furrows and ridges, which is exactly the planting method Hao Li had explored. "Black goji berry is a drought-tolerant plant and is most afraid of waterlogging. These furrows and ridges are mainly used for drainage." The wild black goji berry seedlings planted this year are growing well. "If the weather does not affect them this year, the planted black goji berries can bring more than 200,000 yuan in economic benefits." Hao Li said with a smile. Black goji berries bear fruit twice a year, in June and July and in October respectively. Hao Li calculated an account: one mu of land is expected to harvest 100 kg to 150 kg of dried fruit a year, with an average price of about 2,000 yuan per kg. After subtracting costs such as seedling raising, labor and land rent, one mu of land can earn about 100,000 yuan a year.
"Now many employees have begun to try planting, and some company employees come to help me with management and harvesting during the slack farming season, and they can also earn some income." Hao Li told the author that if anyone is willing to grow black goji berries, he is willing to teach them experience and techniques free of charge. Growing black goji berries brings very considerable economic benefits. It has added a new way for employees to increase income.
Hao Li said with full confidence: "The next plan is to continue expanding the planting area. Through 2 to 3 years of effort, achieve more than 100 mu of black goji berry planting, register our own black goji berry trademark, build a distinctive brand, and open an e-commerce platform to create favorable conditions for the sale of black goji berries..." The black goji berries planted by Hao Li have settled down in the Second Company of the Twelfth Regiment. This is not only thanks to the good policies of the regiment farm, but also provides an effective way for local employees to increase income and become prosperous. While achieving economic benefits, it will also help promote the improvement of the ecological environment in arid areas.