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Explora: Environment
and Resource The Tartary buckwheat industry

3.2. Industrialization of mountain agricultural full use of the region’s unique ethnic culture and ecological
resources and the social and environmental impacts resources to develop ethnic tourism and eco-wellness
Since the 21 century, buckwheat products have entered industries.
st
urban markets, with their high nutritional value and In market research conducted in Kunming and Xichang
health benefits favored by green food consumers. The in 2013, a 450-g box of high-grade buckwheat tea cost
31
growth of the buckwheat industry became even more nearly 1,000 yuan in a specialist buckwheat tea store, while
apparent after 2008. Within a few years, a large number medium- and low-grade teas cost between a hundred and
of buckwheat specialty stores, specializing in the sale several hundred yuan. During the peak tourist season, some
of buckwheat tea, appeared in cities across Southwest of the stores made monthly profits of more than 100,000
China, such as Xichang, Chengdu, and Kunming, and the yuan. As competition in the industry intensified, the price
market rapidly expanded to supermarkets in major cities of buckwheat products declined accordingly. Despite these
across the nation. The health benefits of buckwheat tea changes, the retail price of 450 g of buckwheat tea ranged
were promoted online: “high rutin content” and good at from tens to several hundred yuan in 2015. The distinction
reducing the three “highs” (high blood sugar, high blood between high- and low-end products is primarily based
pressure, and high cholesterol). Emphasis was placed on on packaging quality and rutin content. Black buckwheat,
the environment in which buckwheat is grown: “grown at which grows at higher altitudes and yields less, is said to
high altitude in a mountain region” and “a green product have the highest rutin content. However, unprocessed
with no pollutants.” This undoubtedly resonated with buckwheat that companies purchase from traders is often
the present demand for safe food, leading to high sales a mixture of different varieties; separating these variations
of buckwheat tea. The buckwheat industry boomed and is either impractical or too costly, making it impossible to
became a major local agricultural enterprise. This practice process small quantities of black buckwheat separately. As
of using the cultural reinvention of local products to a result, terms such as “black buckwheat tea” and other
promote local economic development is not uncommon similar buckwheat products are often used as marketing
throughout the country and has even become a common strategies by companies to add value. For farmers in most
development model. An example is the crayfish industry in areas, the purchase price of black buckwheat and other
Xuyi, Jiangsu Province, which can be regarded as a classic varieties remains the same. For companies, buckwheat is
case where the local government stimulated the growth of a small part of their production costs. The significant price
lobster consumption by striving to create a lobster culture difference between low-cost commodities and expensive
as a means of boosting the development of the local “green health products” is generating substantial profits for
tourism industry and rural economy. 30 companies and attracting a growing number of investors
The local government resolved to promote Liangshan as to the industry.
the “Hometown of Buckwheat.” Under the supervision of In Xichang, Tartary buckwheat tea and the Yi Torch
the County Agricultural Bureau, a Buckwheat Association Festival together form the core elements of the original
composed of various enterprises was established to assist Yi culture, making them a major attraction for local
enterprises in promoting their products and expanding tourism. The Tartary Buckwheat Cultural Park, operated
their markets. This initiative aimed to drive the scaling, by a food enterprise, attracts a steady stream of visitors
standardization, and development of the entire buckwheat every day. The park not only showcases the history of
industry. Similar to most agricultural development projects buckwheat cultivation and processing techniques but
nationwide, the tartary buckwheat industry has adopted also incorporates traditional Yi cultural performances,
the “company + farmer” industrialization model. By allowing visitors to savor tartary buckwheat delicacies
directing support funds toward leading large enterprises, while gaining a deeper understanding of the unique
the government aims to leverage the scale effects and charm of Yi culture. Display cabinets in the cultural park
technological advantages of these companies to encourage exhibit a variety of local buckwheat seeds, neatly arranged
surrounding farmers to participate in cultivation, by type. Each variety is labeled with its local Yi name,
ultimately increasing their income. and some also include scientific name abbreviations and

Tartary buckwheat enterprises rely on high-quality raw serial numbers. The exhibition strives to convey to visitors
materials provided by farmers to develop a diverse range of that local plant varieties and traditional knowledge are
products, such as Tartary buckwheat wine, tea, and noodles, rich and diverse, the natural environment is exceptional,
which have been registered as national geographical and the enterprise is well-equipped with the intelligence
indication products. In addition to deep processing of and capabilities to develop and utilize these resources
Tartary buckwheat products, these enterprises also make scientifically. As a result, the company operates in an

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 5 doi: 10.36922/eer.5696