In recent years, Wuzhai County in Shanxi Province has leveraged its resource advantage as the "Hometown of Sweet and Waxy Corn in China" to focus on the entire industrial chain development of sweet and waxy corn. The county has implemented measures for standardized cultivation, intelligent processing, and brand-oriented operations, thereby strengthening its distinctive local industry that enriches residents.

By 2025, the annual output value of Wuzhai's sweet and waxy corn industry chain has grown to 6 billion yuan, doubling from the 2 billion yuan value recorded in 2021. The industry now benefits five townships, 47 villages, and covers 18,000 farming households, cumulatively increasing local incomes by 252 million yuan.

Laying a Solid Foundation Through Standardized Cultivation

Wuzhai County has standardized its planting layout to solidify the industry's foundation. Utilizing its advantageous location on the 38° north latitude golden planting belt, the county has planned and established nine standardized cultivation bases and over 30 specialized planting villages. These areas have achieved certifications for pollution-free, green, and organic agricultural products.

The county has implemented a "six uniform" planting model for sweet and waxy corn, unifying control over varieties, planting standards, field management, product procurement, processing, and sales. Supporting cultivation technologies like "water-saving irrigation and integrated water-fertilizer management" have been adopted, achieving a mechanization rate of 98% in crop cultivation and reducing per-acre planting costs by 30%.

Through collaboration with institutions like Shanxi Agricultural University, the county has selected and promoted the "Jintian No. 1" corn variety, increasing corn yield per unit area by over 25%.

Establishing Mechanisms to Connect Farmers with the Industry

A "1+6+N" mechanism linking agriculture with farmers has been established, centered around one leading enterprise, six major cooperatives, and 35 specialized societies. This mechanism involves farmers in industrial development through methods such as land shareholding, guaranteed purchase orders, employment at bases, and land trusteeship.

For instance, Zhoujia Village in Yancheng Town, through land trusteeship and local employment models, has achieved an average annual per capita income for farmers exceeding 50,000 yuan, a 60% increase compared to traditional farming models.

Investing in Technology to Upgrade Processing and Enhance Efficiency

Wuzhai County has invested 386 million yuan to build a modern sweet and waxy corn industrial park covering 100 acres. The park is equipped with four quick-freezing production lines and five vacuum processing lines, capable of processing 270,000 ears of corn per hour, with an annual processing capacity exceeding 200 million ears.

The industrial park employs a biomass power generation and heating model, implementing a green, low-carbon production approach. The park has developed and applied a "3-hour freshness-locking process," enabling year-round preservation of products at room temperature without preservatives.

Enterprises have diversified their product lines, developing and launching over 20 products, including fresh corn, quick-frozen corn kernels, corn juice, and low-GI meal replacement powder, increasing the industry's added value by more than threefold.

Implementing Smart Agriculture for Precision Management

The county has established a smart agriculture system integrating "satellite remote sensing, IoT, and blockchain" to monitor and intelligently regulate key cultivation aspects such as soil moisture, weather changes, and pest control in real-time, enabling precise planting and scientific management.

A "one ear, one code" traceability mechanism for sweet and waxy corn has been implemented across the county, achieving 100% product traceability and controlling the defective product rate below 2%.

Deepening Brand Value and Expanding Sales Channels

Wuzhai has deepened the brand building of the "Hometown of Sweet and Waxy Corn in China," carrying out brand cultivation and market promotion. In 2020, Wuzhai sweet and waxy corn was included in the National List of Famous, Specialized, Excellent, and New Agricultural Products. By 2025, the product obtained national geographical indication certification and was featured at the World Brand Moganshan Conference, increasing product exposure by 50% and boosting order volume by 35% year-on-year.

The county hosted the "Seeking Roots of Sweet and Waxy Corn, Revitalizing Wuzhai" event, securing on-site agricultural-supermarket对接 contracts worth 120 million yuan. Offline channels have entered over 300 large chain supermarkets nationwide. Online, sales channels have been expanded through live-streaming e-commerce, with online sales exceeding 50 million yuan in 2025.

Wuzhai County established the nation's first corn-themed experience store, attracting 150,000 visitors annually. This initiative has driven the development of supporting industries like homestays, logistics, and packaging, helping increase farmers' average annual income by 40%, attracting young people to return and start businesses, and continuously injecting momentum into rural revitalization.