Heat-resistant hybrid rice variety developed

New variety, a joint work of Chinese and Pakistani researchers, gives 12.5% higher yield

BEIJING:

The Honglian type of hybrid rice, introduced in Pakistan in 2018, has achieved promising harvests in various demonstrative plots as field trials exhibited a 12.5% higher yield, said Zhu Renshan, Director of Wuhan University.

The demonstrative plots where the hybrid rice was planted were in Lahore, Gujranwala, Vehari and Pakpattan in Punjab, Shikarpur and Larkana in Sindh, which covered the main planting regions in Pakistan.

An online session of the 2nd International Cooperation and Development Forum on the Honglian type of hybrid rice was held in Wuhan, China on Friday.

Scientists and officials of China and Pakistan attended the forum to explore cooperation in hybrid rice in the future, China Economic Net (CEN) reported.

“Developing high-yielding hybrid rice is of great significance for the resumption of grain production and economic growth after the flood disaster,” Shahzad Sabir, Director Agriculture Headquarters, Punjab told the forum.

“We sincerely hope Honglian Type Hybrid Rice Joint Research Centre could become a long-term platform for China-Pakistan agricultural science and technology cooperation to safeguard mutual food security and deepen friendship,” he said