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Explora: Environment
and Resource The Tartary buckwheat industry

households. After the distribution of land use rights to rural seeds in the first furrow. In recent years, some families have
households, the original 2-year, three-harvest farming begun to use small tilling machines that are slightly more
system in Lamo village could no longer be sustained, and efficient. After the dissolution of rural collective economic
wheat farming was gradually abandoned. This was due organizations, this family-based agricultural production—
to the inability to address the irrigation issues that arose where labor is divided among family members and small-
with the land division, as wheat requires irrigation. Some scale cooperation occurs within the community—has
families’ land was located far from the irrigation canals, become the primary form of local agricultural production.
making it impossible for them to irrigate, leading to the In traditional agricultural systems, local social
abandonment of wheat cultivation. Even those living near organization and cultural practices—such as production
the canals might give up growing wheat because households management knowledge, cooperation among community
upstream no longer cultivated wheat and, as a result, did members, cultural customs, religious rituals, and food
not release water for irrigation. Consequently, the canals habits—are essential for sustaining agricultural production
were no longer repaired and quickly became clogged and and ecological development. For example, based on the
damaged. In reality, individual household farming, which local classification of buckwheat and religious taboos,
was limited in terms of capital, labor, technology, and land, people use different varieties of buckwheat for different
led to a reduction in the variety of crops grown, and even ceremonial occasions, which has contributed positively
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making animal husbandry impossible. to the conservation of buckwheat diversity.
At present, the main local crops in Zhipu village are Consequently, the cultivation of buckwheat, a
potatoes and buckwheat planted in rotation. Due to the traditional crop, plays an important role in strengthening
relatively high altitude, maize yields are low; thus, only a community cooperation and solidarity. Buckwheat has
small amount is planted. Other crops include oats, turnips, been both a vital food source for the Liangshan Yi region
green manure plants, and a limited selection of beans and and a ritual significance in the Yi society (rich in cultural
vegetables. There was only one season for planting the associations and an important cultural status). During
main food crops. Potatoes are planted by the end of March, the study, local scholar Dr. Jiarimuji mentioned that
followed by buckwheat in April. Farmers grow various buckwheat was intrinsically embedded in the lives of the
buckwheat varieties in different regions, drawing on their Yi people, supporting them materially and spiritually in
experience and traditional knowledge to adapt to the soil every stage of life, from birth to death. Hence, researching
conditions at different altitudes. 9 buckwheat can serve as an entry point to understanding
On the day of cultivation, the villagers would perform a the development of the political economy, society, and
purification ceremony of their plowing tools and seeds early culture of Yi society. Buckwheat is used for a variety of
in the morning (erchasu), hoping for a good harvest and religious ceremonies and social occasions, granting it a
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to protect the crops from damage by hailstorms or pests. transmittable soul and high status. Its cultural status is
Their greatest concern is sudden hailstorms that occur just reflected in the local proverb: “Many people, the mother
as the buckwheat is nearly ripe, which can knock all the of man is great; crop varieties, crop buckwheat is great.”
wheat ears to the ground, or strong winds that flatten crops. In the local society, buckwheat symbolizes honor, security,
Erchasu is a traditional ceremony of purification across the fertility, and abundance. Whether it is an important
Liangshan Yi region. On that day, nine stones are placed in event in an individual’s life cycle or a major social event,
a fire until they glow red hot. Special plants are then placed buckwheat plays an integral role, including childbirth, the
on the stones, and the seeds and agricultural implements naming of newborns, the dress-changing ceremonies for
are passed through the smoke. This ritual is believed to girls (mitzvahs), weddings, funerals, ancestor worship,
dispel anything unclean and ensure a good harvest. farming, hunting, traveling, festivals, hospitality, and
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Throughout the cultivation period, villagers assist making vows. This significance is also reflected in the
each other with their relatives and collaterals. Single- local saying: “Buckwheat for ancestor worship, buckwheat
family plowing is inefficient, making it difficult to handle for hospitality.”
the rush of work during harvest and planting seasons. In summary, production rooted in community
Working alone as a family makes it difficult to complete cooperation and diversification is vital for sustaining
the intensive tasks required at these times. Typically, men agricultural production and supporting farmers’
lead the plow, guiding it and encouraging the ox, while livelihoods. However, over the past decade, the farming
women follow behind, planting seeds into the furrow and system in the southwestern mountains has undergone
applying phosphate and homemade fertilizers. As the plow significant transformation due to land transfers and the
begins to cut the second furrow, the turned soil covers the industrialization of agriculture.

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 4 doi: 10.36922/eer.5696