Gaoyang Ma Yam

Gaoyang Ma Yam

　　Gaoyang Ma Yam is a specialty of Gaoyang County, Baoding City, Hebei Province. It is highly favored by consumers due to its rich nutritional content, high medicinal value, and dual utility as both a food and a medicine.

　　Along both sides of the Zulong River in Gaoyang County, there are large areas of sandy loam soil that are ideal for cultivating Ma Yam. This crop serves both as a food and medicine, as well as being an excellent pollution-free food product. It requires minimal investment, is easy to manage, and yields high production. In recent years, market demand has gradually increased, presenting broad prospects for development.

　　As Ma Yam continues to gain popularity among consumers, Gaoyang County has been stepping up policy support and guidance, focusing on resolving issues related to funding, technology, and market access to develop and expand the distinctive yam industry. In 2012, the cultivation area for Ma Yam in Gaoyang County spanned six towns along both sides of the Zulong River—Xiyan, Pangzuo, Pangkou, Xiaowangguozhuang, Longhua, and Jinzhuang—covering 110 villages with a total planting area of 40,000 mu. There were 8 specialized Ma Yam cooperatives, 1 deep-processing enterprise, and 1 certified pollution-free Ma Yam base. The expected yield of Ma Yam in Gaoyang County was 80,000 tons, with an output value of 640 million yuan, helping increase per capita income for farmers by 5,720 yuan.