Relocated herdsman becomes professional vegetable grower

Ashir Tahir used to live a traditional nomadic life in the mountainous area in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Now, he has become an expert at growing vegetables.

To help herdsmen like Ashir live a stable life, since 2017, about 6,850 people from 1,700 households living on the mountains in Akto county, Kizilsu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture, have been relocated to a newly built residential community.

With brick buildings, flat roads, trees and flowers, the Kunlun Jiayuan community has become the largest relocation site built for poverty alleviation in the county. Ashir's family moved there, into an 80-square-meter apartment with water, electricity and heating.

"In the past, we lived in a stone house. Without convenient transportation, it was difficult to go to the hospital," the 42-year-old said. "Now, my children can go to school near our home, and life is getting better every year."

To help the relocated residents earn a living, authorities provide each household with a free vegetable greenhouse, with seedlings, fertilizer and tools. Planting experts were invited to train them to be professional growers.

"When I first moved in here, I did worry about how to make a living and never thought I could grow vegetables," Ashir said, adding that under the guidance of experts, he has gradually mastered the skill.

Now, he owns five vegetable greenhouses, which earn him an income of about 70,000 yuan ($10,437) a year. He also earns money from making home decorations for people living in the community during his spare time.