Aksu Launches Spring Irrigation Smoothly, Laying Foundation for Agricultural Harvest

A farmer in Aketikan Village, Aykule Town, Aksu City, Xinjiang, expressed his satisfaction with the timely spring irrigation on 3 March, noting that his cotton fields had been fully irrigated in less than a day. His sentiment echoed the general mood of local farmers as Aksu’s 2026 spring irrigation drive got into full swing, bringing vital water to farmland and laying the groundwork for a bumper harvest.

The Aksu Water Conservancy Bureau has been sparing no effort to promote the orderly progress of spring irrigation. It has actively coordinated with the Water Resources General Station and upper-stream water management units to accurately grasp river inflow, soil moisture and crop water requirements. Adhering to the principles of "prioritising remote areas over near ones, grain over fruit, urgent needs over non-urgent ones, and orderly rotational irrigation", the bureau has coordinated surface water and groundwater resources, strictly implemented total quantity control and quota management, formulated water resources management systems as well as water conservancy project and facility management systems, and put in place a 24-hour canal inspection mechanism to ensure the safe operation of water conservancy facilities.

The Aksu Water Resources General Station has organised staff to conduct comprehensive inspection and maintenance of gate opening and closing facilities, strictly implemented total water control for spring irrigation, and scientifically improved water allocation for the drive. It has strengthened the whole-process management of irrigation water distribution and delivery in canals at all levels, and fully enhanced canal safety inspections during spring irrigation by implementing the work requirement of "water management personnel following the water flow". The station also provides guidance on spring irrigation water use and water conservation, and maintains order in water use to ensure the smooth progress of spring irrigation.

Prior to the start of spring irrigation, comprehensive inspections of irrigation canals were carried out, with 634.5 kilometres of branch and farm canals desilted and 241 water diversion gates and culverts maintained. These measures have effectively addressed the problems of canal desilting and maintenance for farmers during the spring ploughing period, ensuring that irrigation facilities are in good condition for use.

During the irrigation period, technical personnel from farmers’ professional cooperatives and water management staff have been deployed to the frontline of irrigation areas to solve practical problems. The frequency of water regime monitoring has been increased, with daily scheduling and reporting implemented to dynamically adjust water flow and allocation plans, improving the accuracy of water supply and ensuring that water is delivered directly to the fields.

It is understood that Aksu’s spring irrigation officially started on 1 February and has been progressing steadily, with stable water supply and standardised order in irrigation areas. Up to now, 27.3% of the planned irrigation area has been completed. With solid water supply guarantees and scientific management, Aksu is well-positioned to ensure the smooth progress of spring ploughing, laying a solid foundation for agricultural production, increased crop yields and farmers’ income this year.