Hybrid rice succeeding in Africa, Pakistan

Su Zhongxiang, who has worked in foreign countries and regions to promote hybrid rice for a decade, was recently recognized among the first recipients of the Wuhan Talents in Modern Agriculture award.

Su, the rice technology supervisor for Wuhan Qingfa-Hesheng Seed Co, is working in the rice fields abroad since he left the country for Uganda in eastern Africa in 2013 to start hybrid rice cultivation, conduct experimental demonstrations and promote technology.

In Pakistan in 2015, Su and his team successfully developed a new high-quality hybrid rice variety, code named IQS479 with disease and heat resistance. The variant has a high yield and is suitable for the local climate, Su said.

Before the new high-quality hybrid rice variety was developed, Su and his team had frequently visited villages to understand residents' climate and crop planting habits.

In addition to collecting data, Su and his team have steadily improved their planting methods and used the best available.

In the daytime, they go to the fields to select rice under the scorching sun and conducted molecular marker experiments at night.

In the previous 10 years, the overseas experimental rice fields guided by Su have expanded dozens of times. He has also set up overseas experimental centers, which have successively developed a number of rice varieties suitable for different regions and climates.

Meanwhile Su has established overseas technical promotion groups and a technical guidance team (with the participation of Chinese technicians and Pakistani members) to help improve the unit yield and heat resistance of rice in the countries and regions related to the Belt and Road Initiative.

The rice yield guided by Su and his team has increased by as much as 30 percent, significantly augmenting the incomes of local farmers and creating myriad employment opportunities in Pakistan, which has become the largest importer of hybrid rice seeds from China.

Su has now registered seven scientific research varieties in foreign countries, with a total export volume exceeding 10,000 metric tons, earning more than $60 million.

With high-quality talent, first-class technology and valuable germplasm, Su said they have spread the seeds of hybrid rice, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, grass, flowers and related crops abroad, increasing production and value to help local people.

Su said he would further strengthen quality control to ensure that only quality Chinese seeds are sold abroad in the coming months.