Huocheng Cistanche

Huocheng Cistanche

　　  Huocheng County is home to the only large desert in the Ili River Valley — the Tukai Desert. The county has made full use of this resource by planting rose willows and then cultivating cistanche at their roots. This has not only effectively improved the desert environment but also helped local farmers increase their income and achieve prosperity, realizing a win-win of both economic and ecological benefits.

　　  Shamenzizi Village in Sandaohe Township on the edge of the Tukai Desert was once a desolate and sandstorm-prone wasteland. Today, it is covered with vast stretches of rose willow forests, presenting a lush and picturesque ecological landscape.

　　  After years of research and experimentation, local farmer Kunahong from Shamenzizi Village concluded that the ecological conditions of the Tukai Desert are particularly suitable for growing cistanche. A few years ago, he planted over 10 acres of rose willows and introduced cistanche from southern Xinjiang, cultivating it at the roots of the rose willows. Two years later, Kunahong’s cistanche harvest was abundant, yielding over 200 kilograms per acre and generating an income of 5,000 yuan.

　　  Cistanche, known as the “ginseng of the desert,” is a valuable traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Its scientific name is Cistanche deserticola, a perennial parasitic herb that grows in desert regions and has high medicinal value. It generally needs to parasitize the roots of plants such as rose willows, saxaul, and white saxaul. Once planted, cistanche can be harvested multiple times. As the rose willows grow year by year, the annual yield of cistanche also increases. Generally, the yield can reach up to 500 kilograms per acre, or at least around 200 kilograms.

　　  Since cistanche must parasitize the roots of rose willows, planting it requires first cultivating rose willows. Also known as tamarisk, rose willow is a deciduous shrub and one of the most suitable tree species for improving saline-alkali desert land. Planting rose willows helps prevent wind erosion, stabilize sand, and improve the desert environment, delivering significant ecological benefits; meanwhile, cultivating cistanche helps boost farmers’ incomes, providing solid economic returns.

　　  Currently, the Sandaohe Township Party Committee and government are focusing on building a 10,000-acre cistanche planting base. They have increased investment in laying water pipelines and drip irrigation equipment to solve irrigation challenges, thereby improving the survival rate of rose willows and promoting healthy growth of the parasitic cistanche. The township combines environmental management with increasing the income of farmers and herders, vigorously developing the cistanche industry, gradually advancing into the desert, and striving to turn over 30,000 acres of sandy land into a treasure trove.

　　  Author: Chen Youming