Hongqi Farm, located in southern Xinjiang, has a poor ecological environment, many saline lands, weak economic foundation, and a serious shortage of employment carrying capacity. However, it is such an economically underdeveloped area that today has developed into an "online celebrity" reported by various media. The reason is that Red Flag Farm has raised "seafood" in the Gobi desert.

Untransformed saline alkali land. (Photographed by Zhao Jiale, reporter of China Human Rights Network)

Outdoor tilapia breeding base. (Photographed by Zhao Jiale, reporter of China Human Rights Network)

Using the successful experience of aquaculture in saline alkali land for reference, Hongqi Farm, based on 63000 mu of concentrated heavy saline alkali land and the natural saline alkali water resources with a daily flow of 6000 m ³ in the Grand Canyon, adjusted measures to local conditions and turned waste into treasure, completed the transformation of 350 mu of saline alkali land in October this year, with 150 mu of fish ponds and 1000 mu of outdoor tilapia breeding base.

"In late May this year, we released 650000 tilapia in batches, with a survival rate of 90%, 0.8-1.2kg per tilapia, an output of 400000kg, 22 yuan per kg, and an output value of 8 million yuan." Li Xiaohu, the head of the saline alkali breeding project of Hongqi Farm, said, "This year has led nearly 30 low-income families to increase their income and become rich, and each family's annual income increase is about 15-20000 yuan".

The characteristic cultivation of saline alkali water has developed and expanded various industries of the farm. According to Guo Lei, director of the farm office, the saline alkali cultivation project has provided 250 jobs for farm workers and the masses throughout the year, and 6 fixed jobs for fish ponds.

Doing a good job in employment is of great significance for safeguarding the employment rights of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, developing and improving people's livelihood, and promoting social harmony and stability. According to the white paper "Labor and Employment Security in Xinjiang", from 2014 to 2019, the total number of labor and employment in Xinjiang increased from 11.3524 million to 13.3012 million, an increase of 17.2%; The average annual increase in urban employment is 471200 people, including 148000 people in southern Xinjiang, accounting for 31.4%; The average annual transfer of surplus rural labor force is more than 2.763 million person times, of which 1.678 million person times are in southern Xinjiang, accounting for more than 60%.

Ali Tudi, a 54 year old resident working at Hongqi Farm, told reporters: "After working in the fishpond, he can earn 4500 yuan a month, which is better than the original farming."

There are many residents who come here to work like Ali Tudi. Yilamu Wumeier, another resident of the farm, also benefited from the development of aquaculture projects and became a new "fisherman".

"My daily job is to feed fish and clean up. My job is very easy. Compared with farming before, my monthly income has increased by more than 3000 yuan. We can make money at home and improve our living standards. I am very happy and like my current job." Yilamu Wumeier happily pointed to the house not far away and told the reporter, "That is my new house." In addition, he had a small dream, that is, to obtain a driver's license and buy a new car.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that a healthy and progressive nation should encourage labor, employment, support families through their own efforts, serve the society and contribute to the country. Labor creates a better life, which brings not only a rising income level and higher quality of life, but also a sense of inner gain, happiness and security. The smiles of Ali Tudi and Yilamu Wumeier are the best proof.

"To seek industry from the Gobi and benefit from salt and alkali", Hongqi Farm guided people to find jobs nearby and realized diversified income growth, which not only created a high-quality economic development path of self-reliance, innovation and entrepreneurship, but also created a happy way to ensure the labor rights and interests of Xinjiang's minority people.