Beijing 100094. China

Alfalfa often is called "Queen of the Forages". It has been planted over 2000 years in China, and has made a great contribution to the development of agriculture and animal husbandry of China. Alfalfa growth area in China is about 1.33 million ha, mainly distributed in the north part of China.

China’s animal husbandry industry has been growing fast and stablely in the last two decades, with a increasing rate over 10% for each year. We are facing a big problem - shortage of supplying for feed cereal. To develop alfalfa production is one of most important ways to resolve this probem . There is a good opportunity for China’s alfalfa growth. Now the situation of China’s alfalfa growth is excellent. The characteristics are the following six aspects. 1.To establish large alfalfa base, and to form integrated system, combining alfalfa growth, animal raising, processing and marketing. China Animal Huabandry Group is carrying on a project, which includes planting 10 thousends ha alfalfa , raising 10 thousands cattles and building beef process plant. More and more enterprises, including national, cooperative, and individules. 2.To develop and market alfalfa hay , meanwhile to develop dairy industry around urban areas, such as Tianjing, Shijiazhuang, capital city of Heibei Provence. 3. To provide alfalfa harvest and processs equipment, including the ones imported from forgein countries and also the ones manufactured domesticaly. The first alfalfa cubes plant, designed 60 thousands tons process capability per year, was built in Xinjiang in 1996. The process equipment was introduced from USA. More plants are needed to be built. 4. To carry on integrated alfalfa production research program, for instance, Japen government invested $ 4 million in Hebei Provience to explore salt land in east of China. 5 To seek forein companies investment in alfalfa production. Such as some companies, including United States, Canada, Australis, began to enter into China market.

It is estimeted that alfalfa land will be increased to 3 - 4 million ha in 2010. There is a great potential in alfalfa harvest and process equipment market ,which is about $1000 - 1300 million . A lot of alfalfa research programs need to be conducted in the next Century. China’s alfalfa industrilization still has a long way to go, but we believe that it will be developed rapidly.