Sweet watermelons in Shule county, Kashgar, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]
Located in Shule county, Kashgar, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the Watermelon Science Hall attracts students nationwide to learn about the melon culture during study tours. They can also learn from local farmers how to grow watermelon in greenhouses.
The hall is part of the ambitious watermelon project in Shule county, established by Guopai Watermelon Agricultural Technology Co, Ltd from Shandong province. Besides growing delicious watermelons in Shule, the company also organizes Melon and Vegetable Culture Festival to popularize watermelon culture.
"We are striving to attract university graduates from Kashgar to return to their hometowns to work. About 300 local farmers have been employed steadily, and 2,000 have found temporary employment, especially the female villagers," said Hou Yongfang, who's in charge of the watermelon project.
Local farmers work in the watermelon greenhouse, increasing their income. [Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]
The watermelons are sweet, with thin skin, and can be produced offseason. They are mainly sold in first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
Buhalqa Sidik, 25, returned to her hometown to work as an agronomist in the company's watermelon project, learning from Shandong's experts about watermelon growing technique.
"I majored in agriculture in university and I've combined what I've learned in theory with practice here. I've successfully grown watermelons on my own this year and also guide about 20 local farmers how to plant the melons," she said.
Sweet watermelons in Shule county, Kashgar, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]
Local farmers work in the watermelon greenhouse, increasing their income. [Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]
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