Food processing factories in central China's Henan province have actively pursued industrial upgrading to serve growing and diverse markets both domestically and internationally.
Henan is one of the country's major grain production areas. With its abundant agricultural resources, Henan has emerged as a leader in the food processing industry.
In a local food factory in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan, the automated production lines of Tangyuan, a traditional Chinese glutinous rice ball, are operating in full swing.
At this factory, only a few workers are needed to feed the prepared dough and fillings into the processing machines. The rest is fully automated.
Every year, a staggering 900 million of Tangyuan are sold around the world.
"We have kept developing and producing various new products through innovation. Whether it is from research and development, and from technology to marketing, we have continued to respond to the needs of the market, particularly the youth group," said Shi Yuanwei, manager of Public Affairs at Synear Food.
Synear Food has an annual production capacity of over 900,000 tonnes, accounting for more than one fourth of China's frozen food market.
One key factor for the success is cutting-edge technology. Automated production lines ensure that products meet the highest standards, and food safety standards are also met.
"If calculated based on manual labor, it would require 50,000 to 60,000 workers to achieve such a production capacity. Now, with the use of automated and intelligent equipment, the process only requires a few thousand workers," said Zhang Guozhi, a professor at Henan University of Technology.
The agricultural processing industry is a pillar of Henan's economy. As of October 2024, Henan had a total of 6,103 agricultural product processing enterprises, each with an annual revenue of over 20 million yuan.
"Each step of the production requires a large amount of labor input. We have created jobs for several thousand frontline production workers, providing them with stable and diverse employment opportunities," said Dou Yanyan, vice manager of Henan Haoxiangni Jujube Group.
"We support businesses to grow stronger and larger through specific measures such as project-driven initiatives, financial support, and interest subsidies on loans. We also help enterprises reach the markets outside the province and even enter the international markets," said Xiong Feng, vice director of Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Henan Province has only one-seventeenth of the nation's arable land. But it produces one-tenth of the country's grain and more than a quarter of its wheat, making it a "super grain warehouse" of China.
Now it has also gained the recognition for its robust food processing sector. With a focus on grain, meat, and dairy processing, Henan's factories are now producing goods that are in high demand both at home and abroad.
Food factories in China's Henan seek industrial upgrading to serve growing, diverse markets
