Xinjiang Production and Construction Promoted Machine for Sustainable Development

Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps has increased efforts to promote cotton picker machine in recent years in order to promote the sustainable development of the cotton industry.

Taking benefit of the national subsidy policy, Corps has significantly increased its purchase of agricultural inputs, and has also increased its buying of farm machinery and equipment, Xinhua reported.

At present, the number of cotton picker machines with Corps has reached 1,500 units, which has created favourable conditions for mechanical harvesting of cotton.

In 2013, more than 500 million mu (1 mu = 0.067 hectares) of area under cotton was mechanically harvested by Corps, accounting for more than 50 percent of cotton acreage.

Xinjiang is a major cotton production base in China with high-quality cotton producing areas. The region accounts for one-third of China’s total cotton acreage, one-sixth of output and one-half of exports.