Buckwheat Production, Research and Market in China

Buckwheat belongs to small grain in the world crops. It is a short-maturing crop with cold resistance and barren tolerance. In China, it acts as a kind of remedy crops for natural disasters, and is an important honey plant. In recent 10 years, its medical and nutritive functions attract gradually more attentions. Buckwheat processing and utilization have been developed rapidly in China. Buckwheat is expected to be an important material for Green Foods and Organic Foods, so it might have a large market in future. 1. Buckwheat production in China Buckwheat germplasm resources of common and tartary buckwheat abound and distribute in a wide range in China which is the number two country of buckwheat planting in the world. Common buckwheat mainly distributes in the North of China (including Northeast, Northwest and North China) and some south low altitude areas, tartary buckwheat mainly distribute in the Southwest of China (Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces), and some north high altitude areas. In a word, the main distribution zone of Chinese buckwheat is "Northeast-North China­ Northwest-Southwest". In horizontal distribution, buckwheat covers nearly all the country, and in vertical distribution, common buckwheat grows in 600-1,500 meters altitude regions, while tartary buckwheat grows in l,200-3,000 meters altitude regions. The highest altitude for common buckwheat growth is at 4,100 meters (Lazi County in Tibet), and the lowest is at decade's meters. To tartary buckwheat, the highest altitude for planting is 4,400 meters (Lazi County in Tibet) and the lowest is around 400 meters. In China, the planting areas of buckwheat varies from 0.7 to 1.0 million hectares. The total