by Liu Tian, Zhang Feng

URUMQI, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Keram Wuj, a 60-year-old Kazakh camel herder in Xiamaya village in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is optimistic about his life, as his 20 camels in a farming cooperative will provide him enough income by producing milk.

The cooperative, founded in 2014, aims to help those who live beneath the poverty line farm and graze their camels in the village. Nurali Kasmu, owner of the cooperative, said that over 80 herders have joined the cooperative with their 937 camels.

As a caretaker of about 120 camels ready to give milk in the cooperative, Wuj feeds the camels and checks their health condition every day. For this, he gets 4,000 yuan (about 562 U.S. dollars) per month. Kasmu also gives him 20,000 yuan (about 2,810 dollars) as dividends per year for his 20 camels.

"Since I joined the cooperative, my income has increased greatly. Previously I only earned about 20,000 yuan per year by grazing camels, but now I can get about 60,000 (about 8,428 dollars). I used to graze camels by myself and they were easily attacked by wolves. Now they are safer," said Wuj.

In 2018, Kasmu quit his job and took over the cooperative from his father. "I want to make it the largest in the region and help local herders gradually get rich," said the young Uygur owner.

Currently, the cooperative is helping 162 people from 79 out-of-poverty households in the village graze their camels and provide them some 500,000 yuan (about 70,241 dollars) in total as dividends per year.

The camel milk is sent to a nearby milk powder producing company Zhongtuo Biotechnology on a daily basis. Zhao Junli, head of the company, said the camel milk is an emerging industry in China. Henan Province and Yiwu County in Xinjiang helped Zhao start up in 2016.

To support locals to raise camels, the company provides a 3-yuan (about 42 U.S. cents) allowance to herdsmen or graziers for every kg of camel milk they sold. "Some large scale graziers could get more than 300,000 yuan (about 42,145 dollars) of bonus a year," Zhao said.

The company not only purchases camel milk from 13 cooperatives like Kasmu's and some 80 individual herders in the region, but also from neighboring regions within Xinjiang, as well as those from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Gansu Province. But the amount is insufficient to meet Zhongtuo's production need.

Kulzad Hanahat, 29, joined Zhongtuo two years ago to promote camel milk, a traditional food of Kazakh and Uygur ethnic groups. "Camel milk is a favorite high-nutrition food in my Kazakh ethnic group, as well as the Uygur, but outside Xinjiang, people know little about its value. Zhongtuo is trying to popularize camel milk in the rest of China."

Hanahat and her husband work in Zhongtuo with a total monthly income of about 10,000 yuan (about 1,405 dollars). "I moved from Altay in northern Xinjiang to live here with my parents-in-law after getting married. They all support me so we can ensure our future life and provide better opportunities for the next generation."

Hanahat, a junior college graduate, is a packaging supervisor who also serves as a delegate to Yanchi Town People's Congress.

"My family experienced a tough period and relied on my husband's salary. At the same time we need to repay our car loan. Our life has improved since I got my job, and I can help others who are suffering difficulties," she said.

Hanahat is dedicated to addressing concerns related to ensuring a comfortable living for retirees and facilitating employment opportunities for young individuals returning to their hometowns.

"I had raised the issues in the congress sessions last year and now relevant measures to solve the problems are expected to land soon."

"Next year, I'm going to propose building a neighborhood nursery school for young working couples that could not take care of their babies. While my parents-in-law can take care of my kids, it is a problem for many married women who have to stay home to look after their kids," she said.

After years of farming camels, Kasmu has become a wealthy man. "I never thought that I would be the richest of my village, but now I am the very man," he said proudly.

"I will keep camel farming. I hope the milk produced by my camels reach the whole world through the Belt and Road Initiative. I'm proud of my products," Kasmu added.

This year, Zhongtuo has helped Yiwu County raise 1,200 more camels to increase fresh milk production and income for the locals. While his camel milk powder have entered markets across the country, Zhao said he will make the camel milk industry stronger and help vitalize rural economy. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)