Zhongwei's famed watermelon takes to the skies

A recent video of a tourist carrying a selenium sand watermelon from Ningxia Hui autonomous region onto an airplane went viral online. The watermelons, grown in Gobi stone crevices, have become a signature local product, boosting the reputation of Zhongwei's famed agricultural brand.

The main growing areas — Xiangshan township and Xingren town in Zhongwei — feature vast sandy fields amid dry mountains. While the unique dry sand and stone environment gives the melons their distinctive quality, it also poses challenges for irrigation.

The drought-tolerant crop relies heavily on water throughout its growth cycle, from land preparation to seedling transplanting, making stable electricity crucial so that water pumping systems can operate effectively.

State Grid Zhongwei Power Supply Company has aligned its efforts with local specialty agriculture. This year, it upgraded 47 transformer districts, installed or replaced 60 transformers, erected 229 poles, laid 6.1 kilometers of conductors, and added three 10‑kV lines in the main production areas. These improvements strengthened the grid and brought power right to the melon fields.

Every year, the critical seedling and fruit‑setting period coincides with peak irrigation demand. The company regularly patrols the fields, inspecting transformers and pump lines via infrared thermography and drones. They promptly eliminate hazards, replace aging components, and nip faults in the bud.

To serve scattered mountain farmers, they opened a dedicated streamlined channel for agricultural electricity, assigning dedicated zone managers to each planting area, guaranteeing same‑day application processing and rapid connection. A 24‑hour repair hotline ensures that staff respond immediately to any power issue, regardless of heat or rain.

Farmer Yang Baocheng from Xiangshan township said that in the past, irrigation had to be carefully timed to avoid peak hours, but now electricity is available around the clock, allowing on‑demand watering and higher yields year after year.

From parched, rain‑dependent plots to today's large‑scale, standardized production, reliable power has been crucial.

Looking ahead, State Grid Zhongwei will continue optimizing the grid, refining agricultural services, and ensuring every harvest with stable electricity, fueling comprehensive rural vitalization.