Herbs from Changyang village gain popularity in overseas markets

By Ma Yuhan.

Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs are bringing new prosperity to farmers in China. In a mountain village in Yichang, local incomes have improved through herb cultivation.



Liangshuisi Village in Yichang, located at an altitude of 900 to 1,200 meters, experiences a temperature difference of up to 12 degrees Celsius between day and night. This unique environment is ideal for producing four main herbs:
 

Tianma, which helps relieve headaches
Duhuo, known for treating rheumatic diseases
Greater burdock, which can help cure colds
Duzhong, used to treat lower back pain.

The village now produces over 800 tons of herbs annually, generating an average revenue of 13 million yuan (US$1.8 million).



"This year, I planted 10.67 hectares of herbs, including Tianma, Duhuo, and Greater burdock. I expect to earn about 700,000 yuan," said villager Tian Mingson.

Known for its high quality, local Duhuo is popular in overseas markets and is exported to Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Laos, and the Philippines.

At the workshop of Yichang Rongkang Company, workers are busy processing and packaging herbal products. “We just sent 150 tons of Duhuo to Vietnam yesterday, and next we must fulfill orders for Duzhong and Huangbo soon,” said General Manager Tian Kejun.

The company has established cooperation with domestic and Southeast Asian clients through online and offline channels.

"This year, we expanded our herbal cultivation area by 33.33 hectares, bringing the total to 200 hectares,” said Liu Zongyan, Party Secretary of Liangshuisi Village. 

Dong Zhilie, Tian Yamin contributed to this story.