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Why does agriculture in Xinjiang depend heavily on irrigation?

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Pagoda near Tian Lake — Xinjiang Pagoda close to Tian Lake, Ürümqi, Uyghur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, China.

Agriculture in Xinjiang depends heavily on irrigation primarily due to the region's extremely dry, continental climate. Because Xinjiang is remote from the ocean and enclosed by high mountain ranges, these barriers block moist air from reaching the region, resulting in minimal and highly irregular precipitation.1234

Annual rainfall is very low, averaging about 6.5 inches (165 mm) across the region, with some areas, such as the Tarim Basin and the Takla Makan Desert, receiving as little as 0.5 to 4 inches (12 to 100 mm) per year. This scarcity of water makes natural rainfall insufficient to support crop growth, necessitating the use of extensive water management systems.2341

Historically, local ethnic groups developed sophisticated water conservancy techniques, such as the qanat system, to access water. Since the 1950s, these traditional methods have been supplemented by large-scale modern canals and reservoirs to sustain agricultural production, which includes grains, cotton, and various fruits.14