Yellow Daylily in Ningxia

Yellow Daylily in Ningxia

　　Daylily, also known as yellow daylily, golden needle vegetable, or forget-worry herb, has a delicious and tender taste, and is rich in nutrients. It contains abundant pollen, sugar, protein, vitamin C, calcium, fat, carotene, amino acids, and other essential nutrients for the human body. Its carotene content even exceeds that of tomatoes by several times.

　　　　Yellow daylily has a sweet and cool nature, and offers benefits such as stopping bleeding, reducing inflammation, clearing heat, promoting diuresis, aiding digestion, improving vision, and calming the nerves. It is effective against symptoms like vomiting blood, bloody stools, urinary blockage, insomnia, and insufficient breast milk, making it a suitable tonic after illness or childbirth. Yellow daylily is often cooked with vegetarian ingredients like black fungus, or used in soups and stir-fries with eggs, chicken, or meat, offering rich nutrition. It contains various nutrients such as carotene and protein, and has medicinal values including refreshing the brain, enhancing intelligence, reducing swelling, and promoting urination.

　　　　The yellow daylily in Yanchi County, Ningxia, has a long cultivation history. About 200 years ago, farmers in Hui’anbao Town began introducing and planting it, playing a positive role in slope protection and soil conservation. In recent years, local farmers have gained new insights into the food and medicinal values of yellow daylily, and have taken measures such as purification, selection, and transplantation to effectively develop this crop.

　　　　Now, the local government places high importance on the comprehensive development of yellow daylily. The planting scale continues to expand, reaching over 20,000 mu, with an annual yield of more than 5 million kilograms, all sold to cities like Yinchuan and Lanzhou. Farmers who grow yellow daylily have thus increased their income by about 1,000 yuan per mu.

　　　　In 2010, Yanchi County planted approximately 20,000 mu of yellow daylily. The harvesting period lasts 40 days, from June 25 to August 5. The peak flowering period begins around July 10, and harvesting is completed around August 5. The expected average fresh yield is 2 to 2.5 tons per mu, with about 0.3 tons of dried daylily per mu. The total fresh yield is estimated at 20,000 tons, and the dried yield at 6,000 tons. Based on the current market price of 20–24 yuan per kilogram for dried yellow daylily, the income per mu can reach 6,000 to 7,200 yuan, making it a reliable "cash crop" for increasing farmers' income.

　　　　In recent years, Yanchi County has vigorously promoted the cultivation of the characteristic yellow daylily industry, aiming to increase farmers’ income, improve agricultural product quality, and conserve water. Guided by the market production philosophy of “offering what others don’t have, and offering new things where others do,” the county has focused on the regional layout and development plan for advantageous and special agricultural products. Backed by policy funding and supported by science and technology, and oriented by market demand, the county has actively expanded the cultivation of yellow daylily. The County Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Bureau has established a high-standard Yellow Daylily Science and Technology Demonstration Park in Yanchi, selecting premium black loam and sandy soils for the demonstration area. The production zone is located away from major highways and free from industrial or mining enterprises to minimize pollution. By adopting green standardized technical procedures, the grown yellow daylilies feature long stems, plump flower buds, lush stalks, bright colors, and excellent quality, which are highly favored by merchants from Sichuan and Shanghai.

　　Source: First Step to Entrepreneurship Network http://www.cyone.com.cn/

　　Original article: http://www.cyone.com.cn/cfsp/15062.html