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China turns saline-alkali land in Yellow River Delta into high-yield farmland

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By Xu Jingeng, Li Rui, People’s Daily

Li Ruitian, who works for a demonstration base of modern agricultural experiment on saline-alkali soil in the Yellow River Delta in east China’s Shandong province, squatted down to check on the growth of crops in a vast expanse of green farmlands as lush crops swayed in the spring wind.

Just a few years ago, the fertile land beneath his feet was saline-alkali soil in endless whiteness, while now it’s the demonstration base of the Agricultural High-tech Industrial Demonstration Area of the Yellow River Delta in Dongying city, Shandong province.

In the vast river delta where China’s second-longest waterway, the Yellow River, splits and spreads out into several branches before entering the sea, fresh water mingles with salt water, creating a fragile ecological environment.

Due to the high salt content in soil, almost no plants grew in the Yellow River Delta, except a few saline-alkali tolerant ones like seepweed.

In 2009, China started to exploit and harness barren alkaline land with plans. In the next year, the state farm Li worked for was transformed into an efficient eco-agriculture demonstration area in Dongying city. In October 2015, China’s State Council approved the plan to establish the Agricultural High-tech Industrial Demonstration Area of the Yellow River Delta in Dongying city, turning the eco-agriculture demonstration area into the second national agricultural high-tech industrial demonstration zone in the country.

At the same time, Li became a staff member, taking care of the new varieties of saline-alkali tolerant crops planted by researchers in the experimental fields of the demonstration area.

Following the establishment of the demonstration area, a major campaign was launched to leverage scientific and technological achievements to bring new looks to the estuary of the Yellow River in Dongying city.

Researchers gradually grew saline-alkali tolerant food crop varieties including triticale, quinoa, and soybean and saline-alkali tolerant forage crops such as alfalfa and oat in the demonstration base of modern agricultural experiment on saline-alkali soil, which covers an area of 12,800 mu (about 853.33 hectares).

The once barren river delta has been adorned with an increasing number of green plants, thanks to the efforts to promote the application of high and new technologies and the support from favorable policies and measures rolled out by the local government.

“Our team has searched every corner of the Yellow River Delta for high-quality germplasm resources in a bid to breed saline-alkali tolerant plants,” said Xu Hualing, head of the halophyte and eco-agriculture research center under the agricultural science research institute of Dongying city.

According to Xu, The Agricultural High-tech Industrial Demonstration Area of the Yellow River Delta has built a germplasm resource bank, serving as a solid foundation for subsequent efforts to breed saline-alkali tolerant plant varieties. Up till now, the bank has collected a total of 15,000 copies of germplasm resources covering domestic and foreign halophytes of 89 species, 42 genera and 13 families, with the types of the salt-tolerant plants including food crop, forage grass, medicinal plant, vegetable and fruit.

Research teams concentrating on breeding such varieties have preliminarily developed 37 new varieties and planted them in 92,000 mu of land for demonstration. These new plant varieties have increased the yield of land by 15 percent to 20 percent per mu.

“Water holds the key to harnessing saline-alkali land,” pointed out Wang Guangmei, head of the Yellow River Delta field ecosystem scientific observation and research station under Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

By installing water-saving irrigation devices, such as micro spray hose and dripping irrigation tubing, researchers have continuously reduced the salt content in the soil of the Yellow River Delta and significantly improved the soil properties.

During the past nearly three years, soil fertility in the demonstration base of modern agricultural experiment on saline-alkali soil has been generally raised by one to two grades.

Wang’s team has just been laying drip irrigation pipes in the experimental fields of the demonstration base. The team hopes to reduce the salt content in the soil of the area from between 0.4 percent and 0.6 percent to less than 0.3 percent and save fresh water by more than 38 percent in irrigation in three years.

The Agricultural High-tech Industrial Demonstration Area of the Yellow River Delta is listed among the country’s national high-tech industrial development zones and enjoys related current policies, according to the State Council’s reply to the proposal submitted by Shandong province for the establishment of the demonstration area.

In collaboration with research institutes, the demonstration area has built five pilot-scale research and development platforms for work related to smart agricultural machinery, seed breeding for saline and alkaline land, biotechnology, beneficial insect resource, and observation of saline-alkali land ecosystem as well as a protected agriculture test and validation platform. So far, it has gathered 116 expert teams from 56 scientific research institutes.

China has 1.5 billion mu of saline-alkali land, with 500 million mu has the potential for development and utilization.

It is anticipated that the development of saline-alkali tolerant crops would play an important role in guaranteeing food security in China, and more saline-alkali land in the country would become high-yield farmland.

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Senator Monguno Delivers Monguno LGA for President Tinubu

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Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Chief Whip of the Senate and distinguished representative of Borno North Senatorial District, has once again proven his political dexterity and grassroots command by delivering Monguno Local Government Area overwhelmingly for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Primaries.

The primaries, conducted in a peaceful and transparent atmosphere, drew massive participation from party faithful, stakeholders, youth groups, and women across Monguno LGA. The exercise was marked by unity, discipline, and enthusiasm, as members reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC and their unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda championed by President Tinubu.

Senator Monguno, addressing the gathering, commended the people for their steadfastness and collective spirit. He emphasized that the success of the primaries was not merely a reflection of his leadership but a testament to the enduring bond between the APC and the people of Borno North. “Our strength lies in our unity, our discipline, and our loyalty to the ideals of progress and development. Together, we will continue to sustain the dominance of our great party,” he declared.

Observers noted that the outcome of the primaries further cements Senator Monguno’s reputation as a formidable political figure in Borno State. His ability to mobilize diverse groups – from traditional leaders and community stakeholders to youth and women organizations – underscores his deep connection with the grassroots and his commitment to inclusive leadership.

The primaries also highlighted the growing confidence of the people in President Tinubu’s administration. Many participants expressed optimism that the Renewed Hope Agenda would bring lasting development, security, and prosperity to the region. The atmosphere was charged with chants of solidarity and renewed determination to ensure the continued success of the APC at both state and national levels.

Political analysts have described Monguno’s achievement as a strategic boost for the APC in Borno State, reinforcing the party’s dominance and strengthening its prospects for future contests. The senator’s role in coordinating the primaries has been widely praised as an example of effective leadership and organizational skill.

As the APC consolidates its position across Nigeria, the Monguno LGA primaries stand as a clear demonstration of the party’s resilience and the people’s trust in its vision. Senator Monguno’s influence, coupled with the collective will of Borno North, has once again positioned the district as a stronghold of support for President Tinubu and the APC.

With this successful outing, Borno North remains united, resolute, and firmly committed to advancing the progress of the party and the nation under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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KUMO CONGRATULATES TINUBU ON PRIMARY VICTORY: “NIGERIA HAS FOUND IN YOU A LEADER WORTHY OF HER TRUST “

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Hon. Hamma-Adama Ali Kumo, popularly known as “Dattuwa”, Deputy National Financial Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his landslide victory at the 2026 APC Presidential Primary Election.
In a warm and heartfelt message, Kumo described the President’s victory as a clear and resounding endorsement by millions of ordinary Nigerians who have seen, felt, and believed in his leadership.
“Mr. President, today the people have spoken. From the North to the South, from state to state and ward to ward, APC members came out in their millions to say — we are with you. This victory belongs to every Nigerian who believes in a better tomorrow,” Kumo said.
He praised President Tinubu for the courage and humility he demonstrated by subjecting himself to the democratic process — choosing to stand and be elected rather than using the power of incumbency to sidestep the people’s verdict.
“You are a President who could have taken the easy road. Instead, you opened the door to all, welcomed a challenger, and stood before the Nigerian people to be judged. That is the mark of a true democrat, and we are proud of you,” he said.
Kumo also celebrated the Electoral Act 2026 — signed by the President — which abolished the delegate system and empowered grassroots party members across all 8,809 wards to vote directly for their preferred candidate. He described it as one of the most important gifts any President has given to Nigerian democracy.
“You did not just talk about democracy. You legislated for it, and then you lived by it. That consistency of character is what sets you apart,” Kumo added.
As a member of the APC’s National Working Committee and Chairman of the ITF Governing Board — a position he holds by the confidence of the President — Kumo said he remained fully committed to supporting the Tinubu administration in delivering on its Renewed Hope agenda for all Nigerians.
He closed with a personal charge to the President.
“Your Excellency, the mandate is yours. The people trust you. Go and finish the work. Nigeria is counting on you, and we are all standing firmly behind you.”

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CBIAMEC Elects New Executives as National Coordinator, Onomuodeke Unveils Seven-Point Agenda

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The CSO Budget Implementation, Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (CBIAMEC) has on Friday, elected new executives to pilot the affairs of the committee, with Comrade Patrick Ogheneyero Onomuodeke, emerging as the newly elected National Coordinator.

The election, which drew members, stakeholders, and observers from different sectors, marked a significant transition in the leadership structure of the committee and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, inclusion, and effective project monitoring across the country.

Other officers were also elected into key positions including General Secretary, Head of Operations, Head of Legal, Head of Media, among others.

Speaking shortly after the election, Comrade Patrick Ogheneyero unveiled a seven-point agenda aimed at repositioning the committee for greater efficiency, visibility, and impact. According to him, the agenda will focus on strengthening institutional capacity, promoting transparency in budget implementation processes, improving collaboration with relevant stakeholders, enhancing media visibility, deepening citizen engagement, promoting inclusiveness, and ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation of projects and policies.

He stressed the importance of unity, professionalism, and dedication among members, noting that civil society organizations must continue to play active roles in promoting good governance and accountability in the country.

The newly elected National Coordinator further pledged to run an open, inclusive, and result-driven administration that would prioritize teamwork, transparency, and national development.

The election also witnessed the presence of notable observers and stakeholders, including Comrade Adodo Solomon, Chairman Public and Private Partnership, as well as international development expert, Mrs. Tamara Jensin, President and Chairman Arc-royal International, alongside other dignitaries.

Members of the committee expressed optimism over the emergence of the new executives, describing the development as a fresh opportunity to reposition the organization and strengthen its relevance within the civic and governance space.

The event concluded with goodwill messages and renewed commitments by members to work collectively toward achieving the vision and objectives of the committee.

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