Fortunately, There Is Electricity to Guard Against the Spring Frost

On March 19th, the spring atmosphere grew stronger on Yuelong Mountain in Pengyang County. In the Hongmei Apricot Orchard, clusters of apricot flowers were on the verge of blooming. Unlike previous years, this year, the fruit growers are no longer worried about the "late spring cold snap" and irrigation problems. The service team of State Grid Ningxia Electric Power, through the marketing and electricity expansion project, has provided a solid guarantee with "full power" for the anti-frost protection during the flowering period of Hongmei apricots and the electricity consumption for spring irrigation, enabling the "apricot flower economy" to burst forth with new vitality on the path of rural revitalization.

Anti-frost electricity in the mountains: 7 utility poles form a "heartwarming barrier"

If the Hongmei apricots encounter frost during their flowering period, the yield is at risk of being halved. In the past, the fruit growers lit fires and created smoke at night and covered the plants manually. It was both time-consuming and difficult to control the temperature. This year, Pengyang Company focused on the pain points during the flowering season of Pengyang Hongmei apricots and moved the power service to the fields. The service team was organized to go into the mountains despite the spring cold. In just one day, they completed the erection of seven utility poles and the installation of five sets of power meter boxes, and laid a 0.5-kilometer-long line, enabling the orchard to use the "dedicated anti-frost electricity" for the first time.

"The utility poles are erected on the hilltops, and the equipment is installed among the flowers. The intelligent temperature control system can monitor the temperature in real time, and the electric hot air blowers are on standby at any time!" Mr. Zhang, a fruit grower, pointed to the newly installed power meter box and introduced that once the temperature drops below 2 degrees Celsius, the equipment will start automatically and raises the temperature evenly to protect the flower stamens. The company also coordinated with users in advance to debug the equipment to ensure that there will be a response upon warning and no power outages in case of low temperatures.

Irrigation transformation from "diesel to electricity": 5 sets of meter boxes activate the kinetic energy of spring water

"Yuelong Mountain is at a high elevation. In the past, we relied on diesel engines for pumping water, which was costly, noisy, and we could only be anxious during the dry season," Ms. Ma, the person in charge of the orchard, remarked with emotion. After the power supply was connected, five orchards started using water pumps simultaneously. The clear well water precisely reached the roots of the apricot trees through the drip irrigation pipeline network. The irrigation efficiency increased by 70%, and the cost per mu (Chinese acre) was saved by more than 200 yuan. Calculated based on four hours of irrigation per day, the five sets of equipment can replace the diesel consumption of 3.5 tons on average each year and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 10 tons.

When the switch was closed and the gurgling water flowed along the newly laid pipeline to the terraced fields, Ms. Ma calculated the "harvest account": "Electric irrigation is not only labor-saving and cost-saving, but also can control the water volume and maintain soil moisture. The fruit setting rate this year will increase by at least 20%!"

Servicing the "apricot" happiness path: Completed in one day, accelerating the assistance to farmers

In order to supply electricity before the flowering period, Pengyang Company opened a fast-track service channel. In early March, it established the "Apricot Flower Power Protection Special Team," integrated the survey, design, and construction links, and shortened the power expansion process to three working days. On the day of the project on March 19th, the service team stayed throughout the process and completed the equipment acceptance, meter installation, power connection, and the first round of inspections simultaneously. "It only took five days from application to getting the electricity!" The person in charge of Yuelong Mountain Ecological Orchard praised repeatedly.

The apricot flowers are swaying, and the silver wires are shuttling. Seven utility poles stand tall in the mountains, and five sets of meter boxes stand ready for the blooming of flowers. The company has delivered its services to the forefront of rural revitalization with the "acceleration of electricity." One line after another and clusters of apricot flowers are connecting the "apricot" happiness picture of prosperous industries and wealthy farmers. (He Peilin, Li Weidong)