Crayfish farming is unlocking new economic opportunities in Makit County, northwest China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region, where villagers are converting desert land into profitable aquaculture ponds.
What was once desolate Gobi wasteland is now dotted with glimmering aquaculture ponds, offering local villagers fresh income and renewed hope.
The initiative began when aid teams from east China's Shandong Province introduced the bold concept of transplanting crayfish farming from China's east coast to Xinjiang's arid west.
After more than a year of repeated experiments, they succeeded in raising Australian freshwater crayfish in desert conditions. To ensure villagers could take part, the team built ponds, installed equipment, and prepared easy-to-use guides on crayfish farming.
At first, the challenges were daunting as the desert's water is extremely difficult to manage-it gets scorching hot by day, freezing by night, and the quality is hard.
The first batch of crayfish larvae saw survival rates of just 10 percent.
"We were also very anxious, so we immediately brought in a professional (aquaculture) team from Rizhao, and they simply stayed by the crayfish ponds. In Xinjiang, the water is highly saline and alkaline, and if the crayfish don't molt, they won't survive. To adjust the water quality, there was one day when we conducted more than a hundred tests, and the data filled up two whole notebooks," said Bu Xiangbing, aid Xinjiang cadre from Rizhao City, Shandong Province.
After two years of persistence, survival rates drastically improved. By 2024, Xinjiang's desert-raised crayfish were quickly sold out on the market, proving both the quality and potential of this new industry.
The farming area has now expanded to 160 mu (about 26 acres), involving over 100 local households.
For locals like Nueraihemaiti Reheman, the impact is life changing.
"After learning the skills, I bought a car. I earn 40,000 (about 5,492 U.S. dollars) to 50,000 yuan (about 6,865 U.S. dollars) a year now," he said.
"My wife and I both work here. Together we make 5,500 yuan a month," said another staff member named Abudula Abulizi.
Desert crayfish farming turns barren Xinjiang land into booming industry
