Traditional medicine ingredient konjac becomes cash crop for farmers in China’s Yunnan province

The cultivation of konjac, a corm or tuber also known as the konnyaku potato, is on the rise in China’s Fuyuan county. Konjac is known for its starchy roots which are a rich source of dietary fibre sometimes  used in Asian cuisine and traditional Chinese medicine. According to a Chinese food company, prices for konjac flour were up to 15,000 yuan (US$2,360) per tonne. A local researcher said the konjac industry is expected to earn 960 million yuan (US$151 million) in 2021, and local officials are now encouraging companies to help process and sell konjac products.