Qirui Biotechnology boosts Xinjiang's goji berry industry and local economy

At a production workshop of Qirui Biotechnology Co Ltd in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, workers are busy operating large-scale mechanical equipment to bottle goji berry puree and beer.

Based in Jinghe county in Bortala Mongolian autonomous prefecture, Qirui Biotechnology not only focuses on planting goji berries, but also utilizes the fruit to develop a variety of agricultural products – from herbal tea to coffee.

"The fruits produced in Jinghe are endowed with large size and sweet taste, and that's why our goji berry products are very popular among customers," said Zhang Bin, general manager of Qirui Biotechnology.

Zhang said the company's products have been sold all over China, as well as to more than ten other countries, via both online and offline sales channels.

According to Zhang, Jinghe possesses strong resource advantages and goji berry planting has always served as a key industry of the county.

Aimed at helping local farmers better cope with the challenges encountered in picking, selling and storing goji berries, Qirui Biotechnology has continued to set up fruit planting bases and cold storage warehouses across the country, since its establishment in 2019.

"We have striven to safeguard local farmers' livelihoods. So far, about 500 fruit growers have witnessed an increase in their income and 30 poor households have got out of poverty," said Zhang.

In addition, Zhang said Jinghe would not have been able to develop such a thriving specialty industry without the sound support from the local power supplier.

The State Grid's Bortala Power Supply Co said it regularly dispatches workers to visit local companies like Qirui Biotechnology, so as to collect their needs, inspect the electrical devices, eliminate the potential hazards and guide them to use electricity more efficiently.

A "green channel" has also been in place to make it easier for the companies to apply for power supply.

As the power supplier's customer services continue to improve, Qirui Biotechnology will step up the optimization of its technologies and develop more diversified goji berry products, thus further contributing to local rural revitalization, Zhang added.

liuzizheng@chinadaily.com.cn