Campaign launched to promote Chinese hybrid rice in Pakistan

By APD Writer Muhammad Sohail

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 18 (APD) - The Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) in collaboration with a hybrid rice seeds research organization from China has initiated a campaign to promote hybrid seed cultivation across the crop growing areas of the country.

The hybrid rice seed was recently developed by the Chinese researchers from Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Co., Ltd., which is likely to be revolutionary for Pakistani farmers as it would help them enhance per acre yield significantly.

The revolutionary rice seed was recently developed by the Chinese researchers under the guidance of world’s leading agriculture scientist Professor Yuan Longping, who is commonly known as the father of hybrid rice in the world.

The newly developed rice seed variety would help Pakistan to produce an extra surplus, increasing profitability of the country by exporting extra commodity to other countries.

An official from the PARC said that both sides have decided to work together for conducting joint awareness programs for farmers to adopt hybrid rice seeds.

At least 12 Chinese scientists are scheduled to train 30 Pakistani agriculture scientists, apart from dozens of other staffers of the provincial field extension departments, the official said.

In addition, he said that the other aim of the activity is to increase the capacity building of the local experts from all over the country in order to promote the hybrid rice techniques.

Professor Yuan encouraged young Pakistani researchers and agriculture scientists to take benefits from the Chinese expertise in the field of agriculture science. He said he believed Pakistan is a good country and had great potential for growth and development.

According to the official, Chinese hybrid rice has the capacity to increase production up to 150 maunds per acre in Pakistan, almost 15 percent high than the conventional rice’s yield.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)