Xinjiang Farmers Embrace E-Commerce: Business opportunities and profits grow

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In 2017, the central government spent over 700 million yuan to build 36 national-level e-commerce demonstration counties in Xinjiang. Many farmers have significantly benefited from selling agri-products online. CGTN reporter Liu Yang talked to some of them.

In just ten days, these red dates will be in markets across China. They will bring an estimated 70 thousand yuan to Abulaiti. As an e-commerce project manager, Fan Wei's job is to help farmers with their products. From sowing the seeds, to testing the sweetness of the product, to the packaging of the product - all these steps will eventually determine selling prices on the market.

ABULAITI, FARMER TUOKEXUN COUNTY, XINJIANG "Now with the help of e-commerce, we have more sales channels. So more sales, more income for farmers, and a better life."

Abulaiti says last year they were urgently looking for buyers the traditional way. He says thanks to e-commerce, 5 tons of red dates quickly sold out. As more buyers took interest in Xinjiang's products, the more they produced. A ripple effect every farmer likes to see.

LIU YANG URUMQI "Xinjiang has over 12 million netizens. Many of them have found employment through online businesses. Local authorities say they have also set up service stations with computers to train people how to use the internet and make online purchases."

Zhao Peng is one of the beneficiaries of selling products online. With the help of Tuokexun county's e-commerce industrial park, through training and rural logistics, his sales channels have broadened and he has connected with more resources. From selling five tons of red dates per year the traditional way to now 11 tons annually, business opportunities are pouring in for Zhao Peng.

ZHAO PENG, E-SELLER TUOKEXUN COUNTY, XINJIANG "Previously we could not see the feedback, only orders from the traditional way. Now we can see the customers demands promptly online, and we can improve quickly."

From 2015 to 2017, online sales of these local agricultural products reached 2 billion yuan. With 569 million online shoppers, China saw its online retail sales shoot up to 4.08 trillion yuan (about 594 billion U.S. dollars) during the first half of 2018. Liu Yang, CGTN, Xinjiang.