The city grows some of China's top-quality rice. It has more than 600,000 hectares of paddy field producing 3.25 million tons of rice a year as well as some 200,000 hectares of soybeans, none of it genetically engineered.

It also has annual corn output of more than 10 million tons. The hybrid breed contains three times more protein than common breeds.

In addition to farming, the city government also pays attention to livestock breeding and processing. It has nearly 500,000 cows, 3 million beef cattle and 11 million pigs, and produces 880,000 tons of meat, 365,000 tons of eggs and 1.5 million tons of milk a year.

Some of the cows were introduced from Australia.

The city has attracted many global and domestic leaders in the food industry such as Nestle, McCain Foods and COFCO.

Some 465 local companies have won certifications for pollution-free, green or organic food on more than 2,400 products that are sold in over 40 major cities in China as well as some 20 countries and regions overseas.

Eighteen products, including Wuchang rice, Bayan pork and Shangzhi black mushrooms have been registered with national geographical indications.