Xinjiang cotton farmer embraces new opportunities through agricultural modernization

Lu Dewen checks the status of cotton at his field in Sandaogou Village of Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 30, 2026.

As the autumn harvest arrives, cotton fields across Xinjiang turn snow-white. In Shawan, at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, 35-year-old cotton farmer Lu Dewen is busy managing his cotton-picking team. This year, he planted 1,500 mu (about 100 hectares) of cotton. Since late September, his team's schedule has been filled with harvesting orders from nearby farmers, with some jobs taking them to southern Xinjiang.

Four years ago, Lu's family bought a cotton picker, allowing them to harvest their own cotton and provide services to other farmers. Lu hired four workers and organized them into two shifts to improve efficiency. As cotton harvesting depends on favorable weather, the team must make the most of clear skies. Lu stays in the fields throughout the harvest to coordinate orders, troubleshoot his machine and manage schedules.

Lu began farming alongside his father, Lu Gaolin, 10 years ago, learning every stage of cotton production, from sowing and irrigation to harvesting. "Fluctuations in the cotton market are normal, but farming requires steady, hard work," he said.

Over the years, Lu has witnessed advances in cotton-growing techniques and the wider use of mechanized and intelligent agricultural machinery. His business now extends beyond his own farm to providing harvesting services for other growers. His father has stepped back from daily farm work but still visits the fields during the busy harvest season to check on progress and offer advice.

Shawan is a major cotton-producing area in northern Xinjiang. According to the local bureau of agriculture and rural affairs, the city planted 1.6457 million mu (about 109,713 hectares) of cotton this year, with mechanized operations accounting for more than 99 percent of the work from sowing to harvesting. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Lu Dewen checks the humidity of packed cotton at a cotton field in Daquan Township of Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Lu Dewen (L) and his team troubleshoot a cotton picker at a field in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

A cotton picker of Lu Dewen's team harvests cotton for other farmers at a field in Daquan Township of Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Lu Dewen (R) leads his team in harvesting cotton for other farmers while his father stands at his side in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

A worker of Lu Dewen's team cleans a cotton picker at a cotton field in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Lu Gaolin calls a cotton picker owner at a cotton field in Sandaogou Village of Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

This combo photo shows Lu Gaolin, his son and hired workers operating machinery to sow cotton, April 15, 2021 (aerial drone photo, upper), and an agricultural drone spraying pesticides over Lu's cotton field, July 15, 2021 (aerial drone photo, middle), and a cotton picker hired by Lu harvesting cotton, Oct. 24, 2021 (aerial drone photo, lower), in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Lu Gaolin plays with his granddaughter at a cotton field in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

This combo photo shows Lu Dewen checking the status of a cotton picker on his phone before sunrise (top), the operating data for the cotton picker displayed on the phone (L, bottom), and locations of other cotton pickers in nearby fields (R, bottom), in Daquan Township of Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Lu Dewen talks to his team through walkie-talkie at a cotton field in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 2, 2026 shows Lu Dewen and his team refueling a cotton picker and replenishing its water supply beside a cotton field in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

This combo photo shows Lu Gaolin (R) and his son Lu Dewen checking the humidity of cotton at a field after rain, Oct. 23, 2021 (top), and Lu Dewen (R) leading his team in harvesting cotton for other farmers while his father stands at his side, Sept. 30, 2026 (bottom), in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

A cotton picker of Lu Dewen's team harvests cotton for other farmers at a field in Daquan Township of Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Farmers ask Lu Dewen (C) about harvest schedule beside a cotton field in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Lu Dewen (R) and his team return to his home in Sandaogou Village of Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Lu Gaolin watches an agricultural drone spraying pesticides over a cotton field during midsummer field management in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 15, 2021. It was the family's first time using drone-based crop spraying; previously, they relied on tractors. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

A drone photo taken on Oct. 2, 2026 shows Lu Dewen refueling a cotton picker and replenishing its water supply beside a cotton field in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 30, 2026 shows a cotton picker of Lu Dewen's team harvesting cotton for other farmers at a field in Daquan Township of Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Lu Dewen adjusts a cotton picker in Sandaogou Village of Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Lu Dewen poses for a group photo with his wife and two daughters at a cotton field in Sandaogou Village of Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Lu Dewen (L) and his team discuss harvest schedule while troubleshooting machine at a cotton field in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)