In recent years, the mechanization and digitalization of Xinjiang's cotton industry have become increasingly widespread. From automatic driving sowing to drone field patrols, intelligent irrigation and pest warning systems, new technologies have empowered cotton production, creating an agricultural model that integrates efficiency, sustainability and green practices. Agricultural technological innovation is driving Xinjiang's cotton industry to increase both quality and stability.

From labor to machine 

Xinjiang accounts for more than 90 percent of China's total cotton production. In the past, Xinjiang's cotton fields were filled with hardworking farmers, especially during the sowing season. However, this scenario has now become a thing of the past.

By May 2024, most cotton fields in Xinjiang had already completed sowing. While driving along the rural roads of south Xinjiang, under the abundant sunshine, tender cotton seedlings gradually emerged from the soil, and the fields were filled with lively greenery. In Qigegeremu Village, Tarim Township, Shaya County, Aksu Prefecture, one of Xinjiang's major cotton-growing areas, hundreds of hectares of cotton fields were barely attended by "hands-on" farmers. Instead, driverless planting machines equipped with BeiDou satellite navigation system, the Chinese GPS equivalent, dominated the landscape.

"Previously, cotton sowing and irrigation required constant attention from farmers; it was very labor-intensive. Now, with intelligent machines, farmers have been relieved of much of the workload," said Chen Fan, deputy head of the villagers' committee of Qigegeremu. In recent years, Xinjiang has adopted technology to empower farming by fully promoting the use of BeiDou satellite-guided precision sowing machines, which can complete drip irrigation installation, seeding and soil covering in one go with a straight-line error of no more than 2 cm per km. The mechanization rate for cotton planting has reached 100 percent.

During the harvest season, Xinjiang's cotton-growing areas have also widely adopted mechanical harvesting methods. In 2024, the overall mechanization rate for cotton cultivation and harvesting in Xinjiang reached over 97 percent. The mechanical harvesting rate of cotton increased from 35 percent in 2014 to over 90 percent last year, steadily improving the comprehensive efficiency of cotton production.

In the process of advancing full mechanization in Xinjiang's cotton industry, domestic machinery is gradually coming to the forefront and playing an increasingly important role. At the assembly workshop of Xinjiang Boshiran Intelligent Agricultural Machinery Co. Ltd., the faint smell of machine oil and cold steel fills the air. Workers monitor the production process through digital systems at computer consoles, ensuring the quality of every smart agricultural machine produced.

As a leading cotton-picking machinery manufacturer in China, Boshiran has set up research and development centers in the region's Urumqi and Wusu (Usu) cities and Shaya, as well as in Shanghai, holding 178 proprietary patents. Its cotton-picking machines are mainly sold to both north and south Xinjiang, as well as to Gansu Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The company also has export contracts with countries like Sudan, Türkiye, Iran and Kazakhstan. "Our peak production season is in full swing by March, and our three- and six-row balers are especially popular in both domestic and international markets," said Huang Xincheng, an executive of Boshiran.

Today, in Xinjiang's cotton fields, highly mechanized operations are commonplace. Wherever this reporter went, those who he interviewed spoke highly of the application of modern farming technologies in cotton fields. They told Xinjiang Today that the development of technology has not only lightened the burden of heavy physical labor, but has also greatly unleashed the potential of the land.

From experience to data 

In summer, in a 130-hectare cotton field in Shuwozi Village, Dafeng Township, Hutubi County, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, long drip irrigation pipes run like veins through the cotton fields, quietly laid beneath each row of cotton plants, ensuring precision and efficiency. Clear water droplets, after being filtered and accurately measured, slowly seep from the tiny holes in the pipes, directly nourishing the roots of each cotton plant.

"Before digital management became widespread, farmland management largely relied on the experience of local farmers and this reliance on the traditional farming method made it difficult to ensure stable crop quality. Now, with digital management, field management is much more precise," said Yuan Hualing, a local farmer. In the past, one person could manage no more than six hectares, but now, 10 people can manage the entire production process from planting to harvesting over 130 hectares of land.

High-quality cotton is not just grown, but also carefully managed. In recent years, with the help of big data, cloud computing and other information technologies, Xinjiang's cotton industry has established a comprehensive digital management system from planting to sales. Cotton farmers can monitor and control field conditions remotely through mobile apps, while also staying informed about market trends to optimize their production decisions. As "smart agriculture" spreads across Xinjiang, farms are being equipped with "smart brains," which greatly improve land productivity.

Four years ago, an innovative project led by two visionary youths born in the 1990s, Ai Haipeng and Ling Lei, kicked off in Yuli County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture. They initiated China's first unmanned, low-labor cotton farm project, an undertaking they befittingly named Super Cotton Fields, on 200 hectares of high-standard cotton fields, testing and enhancing the replicability of smart cotton fields.

"This year, we are using a 2.05-meter-wide film, which better conserves water and increases soil temperature, leading to faster seedling emergence," Ling said. The two young entrepreneurs have used the Internet of Things, robotics and artificial intelligence technologies to accurately manage the cotton fields, reducing dependence on personnel and all the while increasing yields. In 2021, the average yield of cotton in the Super Cotton Fields was 3.81 ton per hectare, and by 2024, this number had reached 7.94 tons.

Smart cotton fields are continuously unlocking the potential of the land. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2024, Xinjiang's total cotton output exceeded 5.68 million tons, an 11.2-percent increase over 2023, and had remained above 5 million tons for six consecutive years. The region's share of national cotton production increased from 87.3 percent in 2020 to 92.2 percent last year, with area, yield, total output, and export volume ranking first in China for 30 consecutive years.

From quantity to quality 

In recent years, the development of Xinjiang's cotton industry has faced challenges such as a lack of consistency in cotton varieties and uneven crop quality, affecting the brand image and market competitiveness. However, with continuous technological innovation in the seed industry, the quality of Xinjiang cotton has seen noteworthy improvements.

Entering the laboratory of Joinhope Seed Industry Co. Ltd. in Changji, staff are focused on analyzing the latest cotton breeding data. Under the microscope, each cotton seed appears to contain abundant vitality, symbolizing future bountiful harvests.

Seeds are the "chips" of agriculture. As a national hi-tech enterprise, Joinhope has tackled many technical challenges in the breeding of high-yield cotton varieties, seed standardization, and mechanized cotton production. The company's breakthroughs have enabled large-scale, high-yield and high-quality cotton production.

"We have established three core breeding stations, one nanfan (referring to propagation and breeding in south China in winter) breeding station, eight core testing stations, and 24 ecological testing points in major cotton-growing areas across the country, and have partnered with research institutes such as the Institute of Microbiology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing to continually improve seed technology," said Wang Jianfu, an executive of Joinhope. Currently, the company processes more than 5,000 tons of cotton seeds annually, covering approximately 120,000 hectares in Xinjiang.

Like Joinhope, more and more seed-producing companies in Xinjiang are accelerating their discovery and utilization of excellent genes through cooperation with research institutions and the use of advanced technologies such as modern biotechnology and gene editing, shortening breeding cycles, and successfully developing cotton varieties adaptable to local conditions.

"In recent years, we have introduced breakthrough cotton varieties such as Yuanmian No.11 and Yuanmian No.8. Their common characteristics are high quality and high yield, and they fully meet the demands of mid-to-high-end production enterprises for premium cotton," said He Hongtao, head of the Shuangquan Agricultural Professional Cooperative in Shawan City, Tacheng Prefecture.

To further support cotton breeding, Xinjiang has increased funding for cotton breeding research, with plans to invest 15 million yuan ($2 million) in building a platform for the breeding of drought-resistant cotton varieties. The government also encourages research institutions and universities to conduct research on cotton genetic improvement and drought-resistant molecular breeding. Currently, more than 90 percent of Xinjiang's main cotton varieties are self-bred.

(Print Edition Title: Sow and Behold) 

The author holds a Ph.D. in international communication from Beijing Foreign Studies University and has extensive work experience in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 

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