Guyuan Sunflowers

Guyuan Sunflowers

Guyuan sunflowers are a product with a geographical indication for agricultural produce.

　　 Sunflowers in Yuanzhou District, Ningxia were first introduced in the early 1970s and have been cultivated for over 30 years, making them one of the district’s specialty products. Thanks to the region’s unique geographical environment and climate conditions, Yuanzhou sunflower seeds mature early, are plump, have thin shells, and boast a fragrant taste—qualities that distinguish them from those grown in other regions. Yuanzhou sunflower seeds are sold to Anhui, Guangdong, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Zhejiang, Hunan, Shanghai, Jiangxi, and Henan, where they are highly favored by consumers.

　　The planting area covers over 70,000 mu, with an annual output of 12,000 tons. The mixed cargo price ranges from 2.20 to 3.60 yuan per kilogram, and the harvest season begins every August.

　　The main sunflower planting bases in Guyuan are concentrated in the three towns of Touying, Sanying, and Pengbao in the northern river valley of Yuanzhou District. Due to soil salinization in these areas, which makes wheat cultivation unsuitable, farmers have switched to growing sunflowers. At the same time, the local government provides subsidies to encourage sunflower cultivation and helps farmers introduce new varieties, tripling the yield per mu. Farmer Yu Peichang plants 16 mu of sunflowers, earning approximately 2,500 yuan per mu, resulting in an annual income exceeding 40,000 yuan. Meanwhile, the nearly 70,000 mu of sunflowers in the northern river valley of Yuanzhou generate total revenues exceeding 170 million yuan. Most farmers earn over 10,000 yuan just from sunflower cultivation, accounting for about 40% of their total household income.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: Yuanzhou sunflower seeds mature early, are large, plump, uniform, have thin shells, and offer a fragrant taste, with a thousand-grain weight of around 200 grams. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Testing shows the shell thickness is 1mm, shell weight is 13.16g per 100 seeds, kernel weight is 9.70g per 100 seeds, and crude fat content is 47.0g per 100g. 3. Safety Requirements: Atmospheric, irrigation water, surface water, and pesticide use comply with standards GB3095—1996 (Ambient Air Quality Standard), GB5084—1992 (Farmland Irrigation Water Quality Standard), GB3838—1988 (National Surface Water Quality Standard), and GB4285—1989 (Safe Use of Pesticides Standard).

　　Geographical Scope

　　Guyuan City is located on the northwestern edge of China’s Loess Plateau, at the center of the triangular area formed by the provincial capitals of Xi'an, Lanzhou, and Yinchuan. The region is dominated by the Liupan Mountains running from north to south, with most elevations ranging between 1,500 and 2,200 meters. Its geographical coordinates are longitude 105°09'–106°58' east and latitude 34°14'–37°58' north. The total land area is 10,537.5 square kilometers, including 4.76 million mu of arable land. The geographical indication protection area for Guyuan sunflowers includes five towns in Yuanzhou District—Pengbao Town, Touying Town, Sanying Town, Zhaoke Township, and Tanshan Township—and three administrative regions in Pengyang County—Wangwa Town, Luowa Township, and Jiaocha Township. The total production area spans 6,600 hectares, with an annual output of 20,000 tons.