Marigolds in Dapo

Marigolds in Dapo

　　Dapo Village began cultivating marigolds in 1998, which has since become the dominant industry of the entire village. The village now has 3,000 acres of standardized marigold demonstration bases. The total agricultural output value of the village is 16 million yuan, with marigolds contributing 8.46 million yuan; in 2010, the per capita net income was 4,600 yuan, with income from the marigold industry reaching 3,496 yuan, accounting for 76% of the per capita income. The marigold industry covers 960 households, representing 87% of the total number of households in the village.

　　 The production of marigolds in Dapo Village is led by the village’s marigold association, relying on the national leading enterprise Qujing Bohao Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Following the “company + base + farmer” model, production is carried out through contract farming. The initiative has achieved “ten unifications”: unified variety, unified sowing period, unified mechanized plowing, unified transplanting period, unified transplanting specifications, unified soil testing and formula fertilization, unified intertillage management, unified pest and disease control, unified purchasing, and unified processing and sales, forming an integrated service covering production, supply, and sales. The marigolds grown in the village have a pigment content that is 10%–20% higher than that of other regions in China. Qujing Bohao Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has now developed an annual processing capacity of 20,000 tons of dried marigold flower granules and 2,000 tons of lutein extract. The company’s lutein oil paste accounts for 25% of the global market share and 33% of the national market share. Various marigold products are exported to countries such as the United States, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and India. At the same time, the village also develops modern agricultural sightseeing tourism, featuring marigold viewing as its highlight—using flowers as a medium and festivals as a way to connect with visitors. In 2007, Dapo Village successfully hosted the “First Marigold Festival” and the “National Marigold Industry Development Seminar.” In July 2011, it held another marigold flower viewing event.

　　Dapo Village, Dapo Township, Zanyi County, Yunnan Province