Minhe Potatoes

Minhe Potatoes

Minhe Potatoes are a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Minhe Potatoes are a specialty of Minhe Hui and Tu Autonomous County, Haidong City, Qinghai Province. The main varieties of Minhe Potatoes include Minshu No. 2, Qingshu No. 2, Alpha, Qingshu No. 9, Atlantic, and Favourita. A virus-free potato seed production base covering 22,000 mu has been established. Minhe Potatoes are a nationally protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Minhe County is located in the eastern part of Qinghai Province, within the semi-arid climate zone of the Loess Plateau. The elevation in the county ranges from 1,650 to 4,220 meters, with an average annual temperature of 8.5°C, annual sunshine duration of 2,259.9 hours, a frost-free period of 170 to 200 days, and an average annual precipitation of 350 to 450 mm, which is unevenly distributed—with over 70% of the rainfall occurring between July and September. Mountainous and dry farmland accounts for 80% of the total cultivated land. The high altitude, large diurnal temperature variation, and cool climate, especially the rainfall pattern that matches the water needs of potatoes, make the area highly suitable for potato cultivation.

　　Minhe County has prioritized agricultural restructuring and taken various measures to support the potato industry. Potatoes have become a key income-generating crop for farmers in the hilly areas. First, financial support: in accordance with relevant policies, credit poverty alleviation funds have been applied for to support potato processing enterprises in need, and small-interest-subsidized poverty alleviation loans have been issued to potato cooperatives, seed production bases, major producing areas, and farming households to assist in potato production and processing, effectively boosting the growth of the county’s potato industry. Second, contiguous development: exploring new models of whole-village advancement projects driven by centralized, contiguous operations under the principles of scaled, intensive, and industrial management. Third, association development: in July 2002, the Potato Marketing Association was established, with 1,200 members currently. It organizes the sales of over 50,000 tons of potatoes annually, cumulatively selling 285,000 tons, generating more than 125 million yuan in income for farmers and benefiting 45,000 households. Fourth, technological support: in conjunction with poverty alleviation projects, training sessions on quality seed potato breeding techniques are organized annually, training over 5,000 people. Integrated with whole-village advancement initiatives, the focus is placed on training in formulated fertilization, scientific planting, and standardized management, supporting around 400 science-based potato farming demonstration households each year. Fifth, innovative models: actively coordinating with Minhe Weston Refined Starch Co., Ltd. to participate in whole-village advancement industrial support projects, implementing minimum price protection and preferential policies for contracted households, and fully purchasing potatoes from contracted farmers, thereby realizing a “company + base + farmer” business model. Sixth, processing for added value: supporting the development of leading potato processing enterprises such as Sanjiang Potato Products Group Co., Ltd., Weston Starch Processing Company, and starch processing plants in 1 Town and Guanting Town.

　　In 2013, “Minhe Potatoes,” applied for by the Virus-Free Crop Technology Development Center of Minhe Hui and Tu Autonomous County, passed the review of the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and expert evaluation, and were registered and protected as a national geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected geographic indication area for Minhe Potatoes covers the entire territory of Minhe Hui and Tu Autonomous County, including towns and townships such as Chuan Kou Town, Bazhou Town, Machangyuan Township, Xigou Township, Gushan Town, Hetaozhuang Township, Li’erpu Town, Songshu Township, Xiamen Town, Xinmin Township, Beishan Township, Longzhi Township, Zongbao Township, Manping Town, – Town, Qianhe Township, Zhuandao Township, Gangu Township, – Township, Guanting Town, Zhongchuan Township, and Xinger Township. The geographical coordinates are between 102°26′–103°04′ east longitude and 35°45′–36°26′ north latitude. The county spans approximately 69 kilometers from north to south and about 32 kilometers from east to west, covering a total area of 1,890.82 square kilometers.