Xinjiang TV news reported in March 24 that Chinese government increased the lowest wheat purchase price from 1.66 Yuan to 1.74 Yuan to encourage farmers to plant grain.

“Xinjiang is expected to increase grain planted land by 3 million mu (Chinese acres) and reaches over 13 million mu (Chinese acres) in this year.” The report said.

But, planting grain privilege was only given to the Han Chinese farmers in Xinjiang not the Uyghur farmers.

Recently, ETIC received the letter from farmers in North West East Turkistan regarding the Uyghur farmers were forced to follow government’s compulsory crop plan and not allowed to plant grains that they can make more money. “It is total discrimination. Government would like to Han farmers to get advantages over Uyghur farmers” said one of the letters.

Chinese government also increased the subsidies for grain production to encourage Han Chinese farmers. Although Uyghur farmers have complain about compulsory crop plan since many years, they were pressured to be quiet with various heavy – handed tactics.

“We were thinking that central government in Beijing may not aware of the situation of Uyghur farmers, and we send the petitioner to Beijing. But he was kicked out from Beijing and threatened with imprisonment….” said one of the anonymous farmers in his letter. .