electra-supply.comAfter the onset of the Cold Dew solar term, wheat planting is in full swing across Henan province, often referred to as the “grain granary” of China. In the city of Zhuzhou, a major grain-producing area, food processing companies are entering a bustling production season, transforming grains into various food products that reach households both locally and globally.
As an essential hub for grain production in China, Zhuzhou boasts over 19 million acres of arable land and produces more than 16 billion pounds of grain annually, constituting 1/8 of the province’s total output. The city’s wheat production alone contributes to 1/7 of the province’s total and nearly 1/26 of the national output.
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the fields of Zhuzhou City, where I observed farmers and sowing machines diligently at work planting winter wheat. In recent years, Zhuzhou has capitalized on its strengths in agriculture, actively extending its industrial chain, enhancing the value chain, and developing a robust supply chain to promote the deep processing of agricultural products and foster a seamless agricultural transition.
For instance, in Suiping County, the local economy thrives on two primary industries: food processing and equipment manufacturing. The county is working to establish the Suiping Advanced Manufacturing Development Zone. Notable domestic and international food companies such as Nestlé, Xu Fook Ji, Jin Mai Lang, Wu De Li, Ke Ming Noodles, Si Nian Foods, and Yanjing Beer have all set up operations in the area.
During my visit to the production facility of Ke Ming Noodles, I witnessed the full automation of the production line in action. Bags of wheat flour underwent a series of processes—including mixing, maturation, rolling, and cutting—transforming them into smooth, delicate noodles.
Xiao Jichao, the company’s general manager, shared that Ke Ming is a leading player in the national noodle industry, producing over 400,000 tons of various noodles and processing more than 1 million tons of wheat annually. Once fully operational, the Ke Ming (Suiping) Food Industrial Park is projected to generate an annual revenue exceeding 5 billion yuan and create over 2,000 jobs, establishing itself as the largest production base for the company in China.
“We are a key enterprise for agricultural modernization in Zhuzhou and have partnered with local cooperatives in Suiping County to encourage farmers to grow high-quality, strong-gluten wheat,” Xiao explained. “In the future, we will support the expansion of cultivated areas to meet the diverse needs of different food products. We will also focus on differentiated product development based on consumer variations, targeting new market segments.”
“Additionally, we plan to invest in new projects in Suiping County,” Xiao added. “As a comprehensive industrial chain entity involving wheat farming, flour processing, and noodle production, we aim not just to advance our own sector but to stimulate growth across related industries like local agriculture and food packaging. Currently, a number of food processing and related enterprises are clustered in Suiping County.”
Beyond food processing, Suiping County has been actively developing equipment manufacturing and new materials industries, targeting domestic and international top 500 companies and major central enterprises while concentrating on key regions for industrial transfer.
According to a representative from the Suiping Advanced Manufacturing Development Zone’s management committee, this zone has emerged as a national base for agricultural product processing entrepreneurship. In recent years, Suiping has taken advantage of opportunities presented by a new development framework to create a leading green food manufacturing industrial park. By relying on its principal food processing industry, the county has established a comprehensive industrial chain encompassing raw material production, food R&D, production, testing, packaging, and logistics, facilitating the integrated development of related industries. Currently, over 120 industrial enterprises have settled in the zone, and in 2023, the leading industries, including food manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, and new materials, achieved a total output value of 16.33 billion yuan.
A representative from the Zhuzhou City Federation of Industry and Commerce noted that Suiping County represents a microcosm of the city’s food industry development. Zhuzhou is focused on building a “big food industry” and enhancing the grain processing sector to increase its value. By extending the industrial chain of local specialty products such as wheat and corn, the city is constructing an ecological food industry while strengthening its grain processing capabilities. Furthermore, Zhuzhou leverages its existing industrial foundation and resource advantages to foster growth in agriculture, industry, and beyond, ensuring that primary industries are robust while supporting the proliferation of small and medium enterprises.
