Blueberries – once a fruit that could not be grown in Ordos – are now thriving in the city thanks to advances in facility-based agriculture. In Jirigalangtu town of Hanggin Banner, the crop has overcome local soil limitations and is emerging as a new driver of the rural economy.

In the Kubuqi Desert Modern Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Industrial Park, rows of greenhouse structures stand neatly across the landscape.

"We've built 15 greenhouses and planted around 30,000 substrate pots," said Yang Rong, head of Inner Mongolia Shengying Ecological Technology Co. "Our total output is expected to reach 90,000 kilograms, generating a gross profit of roughly 9 million yuan ($1.27 million)."

Blueberries require highly specific growing conditions – acidic, organic-rich soil, stable temperatures, and precise water control.

Jirigalangtu's success lies in comprehensive technical support: double-cotton insulated steel-frame greenhouses provide excellent thermal performance; organic substrate potting allows flexible soil adjustment and reduces pest and continuous-cropping risks; and intelligent fertigation systems deliver automated, tailored nutrient supply.

"Our fertigation system is extremely advanced," Yang added. "Once the nutrient solutions are prepared and data entered, the built-in pH sensors automatically match the requirements. It's a maintenance-free system, among the best in China. We also measure electrical conductivity levels on site to ensure precise management."

Located between the Yellow River irrigation zone and the northern edge of the Kubuqi Desert, Jirigalangtu offers natural advantages for modern agriculture. After extensive research, local authorities identified northern blueberry cultivation as an untapped commercial opportunity. The pot-planting method also makes productive use of idle saline-alkali land. Under a win-win model, the government invests in infrastructure for dividends, while enterprises handle operations for profit.

"Blueberry cultivation is a highly efficient agricultural model with strong economic spillover," said Yang Heng, Party secretary of Jirigalangtu town. "These 15 greenhouses alone bring us more than 800,000 yuan in dividends each year."

The industry is boosting collective income and creating jobs for local farmers and herders in roles such as harvesting. Ten additional greenhouses are now under construction and are expected to be completed by mid-December, with plans to expand blueberry cultivation to 1,000 mu (66.67 hectares).

"In the future, we will scale up through a village-enterprise co-development model," Yang Heng said. "Our goal is to increase the number of solar greenhouses to 200 during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30). We will also extend and strengthen the blueberry value chain, developing new products such as blueberry yogurt to further raise local incomes."