Inner Mongolia Targets Potato ProcessingNorth China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is set to develop into the country's largest base for potato processing.According to the region's Tenth Five-Year Plan, the government will vigorously sustain development of planting, processing and scientific research. The region's potato industry will mainly focus on powder produce, starch, and instant food. With the increase of people's living standard, potatoes are fading away as a staple vegetable, but potato-based food such as chips and powder produce is increasingly popular among people. Song Zhenguo, director with Trade and Economic Commission of Inner Mongolia, said that the region is an ideal place for growing potato and has basically formed a processing chain in the past few years. The potato yield has increased by four times during the past five year in Ulanqab League, the central part of Inner Mongolia, which accounts for an increment of 650 yuan (80 US dollars) in farmers' income last year, according to the latest official statistics. The region will be able to process 800,000 tons of potatoes by the year of 2005, as indicated by the government plan. |
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