A key poverty-stricken county in Xinjiang has succeeded in helping many poor families shake off poverty through the vigorous development of its walnut industries.

It's harvest season, so workers are busy sorting peeled walnuts into grades. 

The price of each grade is different, and they must make sure each one turns a profit. The lucrative business of walnut processing has provided jobs for local people.

Alimjan Osman, a worker from Xinjiang Fruit Group, said: "My parents are farmers and my elder brother is also a worker. Our life has improved as my salary is 4,000 yuan per month. And the company has offered us meals and accommodation for free."

Yecheng County is a famous walnut-producing area in Xinjiang. 

The county enjoys unique geographical and climate conditions, with plenty of daily sunshine, and is watered well by the melted snow from the Kunlun Mountains. These advantages enhance quality and this is driving demand.

Fei Xinghua, general manager of Yecheng Trading Center of Xinjiang Fruit Group, said: "Small walnuts, big industry. That's the reality here in our Yecheng County. We not only do the preliminary and deep processing of walnuts; we also develop a variety of walnut products. For example, we turn walnut shells into activated carbon to sell products with profit points higher than the price of walnuts themselves." 

Walnut trading centers have been introduced to extend the walnut industry chain, and villagers say they're happy with business.

Nurbakri is a businessman at the Yecheng Trading Center of Xinjiang Fruit Group. "Previously the price of the walnuts was around 8.1 yuan per kilogram. Now it has risen to 8.6 yuan per kilogram as we trade in this huge market. I could earn more than 10,000 yuan per month," he said.

Nurbakri also said that the small fruit not only brings more economic benefits to the county, but also hope to more people.

This year, Yecheng County has built dozens of rural poverty alleviation factories related to the walnut industry, covering all poverty-stricken villages.

According to the local agricultural and forestry department, the output of walnuts in Yecheng County will reach more than 130,000 tonnes this year, which will lift more than 4,000 families out of poverty.