Wuwei in Northwest China's Gansu province, with its superior forage resources and a long history of dairy farming, has insisted on promoting high-quality modern agriculture development by powering up its pillar industry – the dairy industry.

Dairy cows in Wuwei, Gansu province enjoy their hours outside the barn. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chinese dairy giant Yili Group has invested 21.2 billion yuan ($3.32 billion) to build a large-scale green and intelligent industrial base in Wuwei, covering an area of over 29 hectares.

After the first and second phase projects are completed and put into production, the factory will be able to produce 1,888 tons of milk with 28 production lines.

A few staff members check the production line at the Wuwei Yili Dairy Co. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The first phase of Wuwei Yili Dairy Co was completed in December 2020. After it went into production, its monthly comprehensive revenues exceeded 20 million yuan.

Its rapid development has directly driven synchronous growth in dairy farming, forage grass planting, feed processing, packaging and printing, veterinary medicine, logistics and other sectors, resulting in an agglomeration effect.

This year, the second phase of the project, which will be built with an investment of 110 million yuan, will increase the factory's daily processing capacity of fresh milk to 850 tons and improve its annual output value to 1.2 billion yuan. 

An aerial view of the Wuwei Yili Dairy Co [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Wuwei Yili will take the lead in building a whole-chain service system, a joint research mechanism for key technologies, and a platform for the transformation of technological achievements.

Notably, the company will continue to help upstream industries, channeling funds and technology to forage grass growers and dairy cattle farmers.