Farmers transplant green pepper seedlings to the field in Jinta county, Jiuquan, Gansu province. [Photo provided to jiuquan.gogansu.com]

In Jinta county, Jiuquan, of Northwest China's Gansu province, pepper growers are busy transplanting seedlings from solar greenhouses to farmland.

At the seedling breeding base of Gansu Xingnong Pepper Industry Development Co, trays overflowing with leaves of young cultured plants are seen neatly packed, ready to be dispatched to local farmers' fields.

"These seedlings are tailored to meet the specific needs of growers. This year, the company has produced 1.38 million trays of seedlings, appropriate for 2,000 hectares of land," said the manager of the company's agricultural branch.

Pepper planting is known for its efficiency. From seedling cultivation, transplanting, and care to harvesting, each stage requires significant labor. Residents of Jinta county have found additional income opportunities through land transfer and local employment.

"I work in the pepper fields during the off-season, and it's conveniently close to home. There's always work available, allowing us to earn about 20,000 yuan a year," said a villager surnamed Li.

In recent years, the county has actively guided the pepper industry towards standardization, branding and industrialization. This year, the county plans to cultivate over 3,300 hectares of peppers.