In the Chinese Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the tomato industry is experiencing a transformation that is in progress, showing the possibilities of smart farming. The region is known for its “Golden Land” because of its perfect conditions for growing tomatoes, Xinjiang boasts over 80 percent of China’s total tomato plant space as well as Manasi County leading the charge for the processing of tomatoes. The region’s distinctive climate, with plenty of sunlight and significant variations in temperature during the day and at night increases the amount of lycopene and enriches soil with selenium. It makes the soil extremely fertile which yields 120 ton of tomatoes for each area.
The development of intelligent technology in the field of agriculture has revolutionized the traditional methods of farming within Manasi County, where the advent of technology that is intelligent can streamline the process of harvesting. The machines now are able to harvest selectively by filtering low-quality tomatoes and efficiently accumulating as much as 600 tonnes of high-quality produce each day. This method of harvesting will not just maximize yield, but also guarantees that the tomatoes are quickly processed into paste or other items keeping their top nutrition and quality.
With 14000 hectares of land, the sprawling fields of Manasi County are a testament to the region’s dominant position in the tomato processing industry. The sector is significant for the economic development of this region, with the estimated value of output of more than 350 million US dollars for this season alone. Moving to contract agriculture has helped to stabilize the market and has enabled farmers to minimize the potential risks of fluctuating prices. Through agreements with tomato paste producers the farmers can be assured of the possibility of selling their produce and also receive vital technical assistance to improve both the quality of their products and also efficiency.
The overall method of tomato farming mixing traditional knowledge with modern technology and cutting-edge business models, not just emphasizes the crucial role played by Xinjiang in the world’s tomato industry as well as the possibility of smart farming to increase the quality of life for the rural areas.
Source: CGTN