Xinjiang enriches 'Chinese fruit platter'

In the fields of Xing'an town, Tumushuke city, 42-year-old farmer Li Songying uprooted nearby tiger nuts. "While these tiger nuts may not be large, they are sweet," Li said.

Originally from Longnan city, Gansu province, Li ventured to Xinjiang in 2018 to delve into the cultivation of tiger nuts, starting cultivation in 2019. "The region offers an ideal environment for the growth of tiger nuts, promising significant developmental opportunities," Li said.

She cultivates 3 hectares of tiger nuts. "In the initial stages of cultivation, the government extended various forms of support, including seeds, water and electricity subsidies, planting assistance, technical guidance, training and substantial national subsidies for utilities," she said.

Having already sold all the tiger nuts she harvested before June, Li intends to continue cultivation next year because of the crop's easy management and high level of mechanization in farming.

Li is also actively delving into e-commerce livestreaming platforms to broaden sales. "Viewers born in the 1980s who have savored these nuts reminisce about their childhood flavors upon watching my videos and reach out to make purchases. Over time, my fan base has grown, with enthusiasts making repeat purchases and recommending the nuts to others," she said.

Li hosts online sales of her tiger nuts on short-video platform Douyin almost every evening, generating an income of over 10,000 yuan per month.

"I am now confident in showcasing tiger nuts through livestreams. Sales are thriving and we have many regular customers now," she said.

Most of her online followers are from big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in Guangdong province.

Contact the writers at zhangwei1@chinadaily.com.cn