Inner Mongolia’s Horqin Sandy Land is turning dessertified landscapes into fruitful opportunities. Fresh crabapples from this region are now gracing the shelves of supermarkets across Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, introducing a new taste to Southeast Asian consumers.
Teng Dayong, a dedicated fruit farmer in Horqin Left Wing Middle Banner, manages a sprawling 190-mu (approximately 12.67 hectares) crabapple orchard. This year, his orchard is set to produce 2,000 kilograms of crabapples per mu, translating to a net income of 10,000 yuan (1,418 U.S. dollars) per mu. Remarkably, nearly half of his harvest is earmarked for export, highlighting a growing demand in international markets.
The journey of these vibrant red fruits begins in the orchards of Horqin Sandy Land, one of China’s largest sandy regions spanning over 77.6 million mu across Inner Mongolia, Jilin, and Liaoning. Cold-chain trucks swiftly transport the freshly picked crabapples to coastal ports like Dalian, ensuring they remain fresh during the ten-day voyage to Southeast Asia.
Decades ago, local efforts to combat desertification involved planting poplar trees, which unfortunately offered minimal economic benefits and consumed excessive water. Recognizing the need for a more sustainable solution, the forestry and grassland academy in Tongliao developed a crabapple variety that is both ecologically resilient and economically viable. These crabapples are sweet, nutritious, cold-resistant, and drought-tolerant, making them ideal for the harsh inland environment.
Today, Tongliao boasts 350,000 mu of crabapple trees, producing over 100,000 tonnes annually with an output value nearing 500 million yuan. Teng has leveraged this success by partnering with Malaysian Chinese entrepreneur Zeny Yong to establish a fruit packing and export company. This collaboration has significantly boosted export volumes, with Kailu County alone exporting over 100 tonnes annually to countries including Thailand, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.
To support this growing industry, Kailu County has invested in a cold storage facility with a capacity of 1,000 tonnes, ensuring that crabapples remain fresh and ready for export well into the next year. This infrastructure not only sustains the supply chain but also underscores the region’s commitment to quality and reliability.
As Southeast Asian markets continue to embrace these Chinese desert fruits, the story of Horqin Sandy Land’s crabapples is a testament to innovation and resilience. From combating environmental challenges to creating lucrative export opportunities, Inner Mongolia is sweetening its economic landscape one crabapple at a time.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
