Fig growing helps boost economy in Artux in China's Xinjiang

STORY: Fig growing helps boost economy in Artux in China's Xinjiang SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 13, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 17, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:08 LOCATION: URUMQI, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a fig production base in Artux 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG SHENGYE, Head of a fig production base in Takuti Village, Artux 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): MAMATJAN KURBAN, Resident of Takuti Village, Artux STORYLINE: Artux city in China's Xinjiang has a long history of fig planting, and is known as "a hometown of fig cultivation" in China. The figs here used to ripen from July to October each year. In 2023, Artux introduced new fig varieties, including one from the U.S., which significantly expanded the ripening time for figs. Now, fresh figs are available on the market throughout the year. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG SHENGYE, Head of a fig production base in Takuti Village, Artux "We started harvesting figs on Oct. 20, 2023, and the harvesting can last until July 1, 2024. This effectively fills the mar