Liushiba Regiment Rice

Liushiba Regiment Rice

　　The 68th Regiment of the Fourth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is situated within Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County in the Ili region of Xinjiang, on the alluvial plain of the southern bank of the Ili River. The area features rich water resources, highly permeable soil, and an annual accumulated temperature between 3300-3500°C. With notable diurnal temperature variations—especially during the rice young panicle differentiation and heading-flowering periods, where average temperatures exceed 21°C—the conditions are particularly suitable for high-quality rice cultivation. Since the regiment’s establishment in 1959, rice has been developed as a key industry. The regiment has vigorously implemented high-quality seed programs, successively introducing and updating multiple rice varieties. Advanced planting techniques such as tray seedling cultivation, mechanical harrowing, laser land leveling, and mechanical transplanting have been widely adopted. Today, all of the regiment’s over 80,000 mu of rice fields are fully mechanized, yielding more than 50,000 tons of rice annually. It is one of the regiments with the largest rice-growing area and the highest rice quality within the Corps. The rice produced here features a crystal-clear appearance, plump grains, waxy-white color that is either transparent or semi-transparent, firm yet resilient texture, soft and sticky cooked rice with a smooth mouthfeel, rich flavor, and fragrant aroma. In 2010, Liushiba Regiment Rice was recognized as an agricultural product under the Farm Product Quality Traceability System, a national standardized demonstration farm for rice, a national “One Village One Product” model village/town, and an advanced grain production county (regiment) in the Corps. In 2014, the rice fields of the 68th Regiment were designated by the Ministry of Agriculture as one of China’s Beautiful Farmlands.

　　III. Geographic Scope

　　The production area of Yixiang Rice is located in the 68th Regiment of the Fourth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (Fogashan Town), situated on the alluvial fan plain on the southern bank of the Ili River in the northwest of Qapqal County, Ili region. Its geographical coordinates are between 80°43′ to 80°09′ east longitude and 43°48′ to 43°56′ north latitude. To the east, it borders Zhuohuo’er Township and Sunzhaqi Niulu Township of Qapqal County; to the west, it neighbors Aixinsheli Town of Qapqal County; to the south, it adjoins Duiqi Niulu Township and Sunzhaqi Niulu Township of Qapqal County; and to the north, it connects with the Zhongyang Sheep Farm and Zhuohuo’er Township of Qapqal County. The regiment’s headquarters is located in Fogashan Town (meaning “Old Village” in the Xibe language), which enjoys convenient transportation and direct access to Provincial Highway 313. It is 12 km east of Qapqal County, 32 km from Yining City, and 47.6 km west of the national first-class port—Dulata Port—offering clear advantages for exports to Central Asian countries. The geographic protection scope of Liushiba Regiment Rice covers 12 agricultural companies within the 68th Regiment. The rice planting area spans 75,000 mu, with a total annual yield of 56,250 tons.

　　IV. Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Features: The grains are elliptical or round in shape, with a waxy-white color. The rice is clean, crystal-clear, and either transparent or semi-transparent, with plump grains and a firm yet resilient texture. The cooked rice is soft, sticky, smooth in mouthfeel, rich in flavor, and fragrant. (2) Internal Indicators: Chalky grain rate of 5-10%, amylose content of 14-18%, magnesium content of 10-15 mg/100g. (3) Product Quality and Safety Standards: During production and processing, strict adherence to green food quality system requirements is enforced. The production environment meets the NY/T391-2000 standards for origin environmental conditions; the product quality complies with the NY/T419-2007 standards for green food rice; inputs strictly follow the NY/T393-2000 guidelines for pesticide use in green food and the NY/T394-2000 guidelines for fertilizer use in green food.