The Current Status Of The Hetian Guanhua Cistanche Industry

Guanhua Cistanche, as a traditional Chinese medicine, has a history of over 2000 years. It was first recorded in the "Shennong Bencao Jing" during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods and is mainly produced in Hotan, Xinjiang. Cistanche deserticola, also known as desert ginseng, was often used as a tribute in ancient times. There is also a legend among the Mongolian people that it is believed to be a food bestowed upon Genghis Khan by heaven. Long-term consumption of Cistanche deserticola can increase physical strength, enhance endurance, and resist fatigue, while also enhancing the sexual and reproductive abilities of humans and animals.

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Hetian is located on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, bordered by high mountains to the south and deserts to the north. Its unique climate and resource conditions make it an ideal area for the artificial cultivation of Cistanche deserticola. In recent years, the Hotan region has fully utilized its rich desert resources and relied on technology to develop the Guanhua Cistanche on a large scale. The Guanhua Cistanche industry has become a characteristic pillar industry that can protect the ecological environment, increase farmers' income, and drive the development of the second and third industries in Hotan. It has achieved ecological, economic, and social benefits, turning the vast desert of Hotan into treasure.

dragon herbs cistanche

1, Industrial development situation

production environment 

The suitable growth temperature for Cistanche deserticola is 15-25 ℃, and it is suitable to grow in sandy alkaline soil with a pH value of 8.0-9.5, strong permeability, and good water permeability. The Taklamakan Desert and surrounding areas in southern Xinjiang, as well as desert areas with the distribution of Tamarix plants, are suitable for the growth of Cistanche deserticola. This area belongs to an extremely arid desert climate zone with an altitude of 800-1400m. It is rich in solar and thermal resources, with long sunshine hours, an average annual temperature of 11.6-12.4 ℃, an annual precipitation of 13-48mm, and an annual evaporation of 2400-2800mm. It provides unique natural conditions for the cultivation of Cistanche deserticola, with a long growth period, no need for chemical fertilizers, and no pests or diseases.

Effects of Cistanche-Immprove  kidney function

Production technology

After the fleshy stem of Cistanche deserticola is unearthed, it undergoes flower bud differentiation, flowering, and fruiting, completing its life cycle. The seeds are collected and sorted after flowering and fruiting in spring. Generally, after the red willow seedlings planted survive, artificial inoculation can be carried out in the second year, with a wide row spacing of 4 meters, a narrow row spacing of 1-2 meters, and a plant spacing of 1 meter. Dig open the sandy soil on one side of the red willow, and use a sowing method to sow the seeds on the capillary roots of the red willow. Cover with soil. Drip irrigation 3-4 times during the growth period, and produce according to green standards throughout the entire growth period.

Harvest twice, mainly concentrated in spring and autumn. Generally, a cluster of red willows parasitizes a nest of Cistanche deserticola. Cistanche deserticola can be harvested when it grows to 10-20 cm, using the method of harvesting large and leaving small, mainly through manual harvesting. After harvesting, flatten and air dry for easy storage.

Production and Quality

The cultivation of Cistanche deserticola in the Hotan area varies greatly in yield on different lands (farmland, sandy land, etc.), generally ranging from 4500 to 30000 kg/hm2. Scientific research has shown that the unique climate characteristics of the Hotan region have led to the presence of two effective substances in Cistanche deserticola, namely piloside and quercetin, which are 7 and 2 times higher than those in Haloxylon ammodendron, respectively. Meanwhile, Cistanche deserticola has also been included in the 2005 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, greatly increasing market demand.

Processing and sales

The main acquiring company is Dichen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Co., Ltd. located in the Hotan area. After purchasing fresh products, the enterprise undergoes sterilization and sterilization treatment and then processes them into slices, wine, and other products after drying. Most of them are shipped out in the form of raw materials and primary products. In addition, there are also medicinal material buyers who purchase dried Cistanche in bulk and transport it to medicinal material markets in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hebei, Anhui, Guangdong, and South Korea for sale. The market price mainly depends on domestic and foreign markets and leading enterprises, with high volatility, ranging from 3-4 yuan/kg at low times to 7-8 yuan/kg at high times.

Cistanche deserticola slice

Cost-effectiveness

Through research, it was found that the planting amount of Cistanche deserticola is 750 g/hm2, and the total cost is 7500 yuan/hm2, including water fees, sowing, and manual excavation costs; The average yield of Cistanche deserticola is 7500 kg/hm2, with a market selling price of 5 yuan/kg, and an average income of 37500 yuan/hm2; After deducting costs, the average net income is around 30000 yuan/hm2, which has become one of the important ways for local farmers to increase their income.

2, Existing problems

Lack of advantages in location

The Hotan region is located deep inland, and compared to Inner Mongolia, it is far from the medicinal herb market and main consumption areas, resulting in higher transportation and processing costs.

Policy constraints

Industrial development countries are conducting preliminary research and demonstration to include Cistanche deserticola in the list of medicinal and food sources. At present, processing enterprises are unable to develop more categories of health food, and can only extract effective ingredients and add materials such as ginseng to make health drugs. The price is high, and general consumers cannot consume. At the same time, the limited support policies in planting, acquisition loans, taxation, and other aspects are also the reasons why the industry cannot develop and grow rapidly.

The market is not well-developed and lacks strong leading enterprises

There are few processing enterprises in the Hotan area, and there is a lack of professional farmer cooperatives. The degree of organization is low, which leads to product price fluctuations and affects the enthusiasm of farmers for planting. There is a lack of standardized trading markets, and the main forms of transactions are door-to-door purchases by acquirers and voluntary sales by growers to enterprises.

Short industrial chain with low-added value

Japan, South Korea, and other countries use Hetian Guanhua Cistanche extract to produce numerous categories of products such as cosmetics and hair growth agents, which has received good market response. Currently, the existing processing enterprises in Hotan still lack downstream products with various functions, which has an impact on product promotion and market development.

Insufficient publicity and awareness

At present, Hongliu Dayun is highly popular in health-conscious areas such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei, and Guangdong; However, nationwide, the promotion efforts are insufficient and the awareness is not high, which cannot be compared with Hotan's products such as dates and walnuts.

3, Development suggestions

Accelerate the progress of drug and food homology certification

Actively coordinate with the food and drug supervision department and the health department to further accelerate the inclusion of Cistanche deserticola in the list of medicinal and food sources, carry out the application work for new food raw materials of Cistanche deserticola, and promote the in-depth development of the industry.

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Attracting a group of large leading enterprises to settle in

Attracting a group of large enterprises to enter the Hetian Guanhua Cistanche industry through investment promotion methods; Researching preferential policies such as providing planting bases, tax reductions, and loan interest subsidies, and cultivating and supporting enterprises to grow and strengthen.

Multi-channel fundraising to form a joint force for industrial development

Actively seek funding from the state, aid provinces and cities in Xinjiang, and society, and increase support for the cultivation (inoculation, drip irrigation), personnel training, and deep product processing of Cistanche deserticola.

Effects of Cistanche-Immprove  kidney function

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Establishing new market entities

Encourage and support the establishment of professional cooperatives for farmers of Cistanche deserticola, implementing order production and protection price acquisition to ensure the interests of farmers and their voice in the market.

Strengthen communication and cooperation with domestic and foreign countries

Provide preferential policies, introduce professional technical teams from both domestic and international sources, and assist in guiding and developing the cultivation and deep processing research of Cistanche deserticola.

Increase publicity efforts

Actively carry out green and organic certification, origin protection certification, geographical indication product certification, and other work; Promote several Hetian Guanhua Cistanche industry brands through exhibitions, e-commerce platforms, and other means, striving to form a regional public brand of Hetian Guanhua Cistanche, and further expand market awareness and market share.