hybrid rice Photo:VCG

The city of Sanya in South China's Hainan Province achieved an annual yield of 2,000 kilograms per mu (0.066 hectare) for hybrid rice in 2023, the first time the city reached this target. It also marked a new record for the cultivation of hybrid rice in the nation's tropical region, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the cabinet, on Friday held a meeting that discussed strengthening investment in ensuring food security, promoting the accelerated transformation of food industry, vigorously promoting the research and development of key technologies in agriculture, and advancing the self-reliance of the seed industry in science and technology, as well as the autonomy and control of seed sources, the commission said. 

Experts noted that the achievement proves China's capability in developing crucial technologies and ensuring the nation's food security, which can contribute to safeguarding food security for the international community. 

The average yield for the third season of a local demonstration project targeting hybrid rice reached 546.7 kilograms, according to a calculation on Saturday, Xinhua reported on Sunday. Combining the figure with the previous two seasons, the goal for reaching an annual outcome of 2,000 kilograms per mu was successfully achieved. 

The yield exceeding 2,000 kilograms set a new record for China's cultivation of hybrid rice in the country's tropical areas, according to Xinhua.

The achievement showcased China's ability and great potential for its grain production capacity, Li Guoxiang, a research fellow at the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday. 

Li said that the new record also boosted the nation's confidence in handling potential risks and challenges. He added that China can contribute to safeguarding food security globally through means such as technology diffusion and transfers.

Qian Qian, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that Yazhou district in Sanya has favorable light and temperature conditions. The elevated yield of rice has contributed to further holding China's rice bowl firmly, according to Xinhua. 

China has been striving to ensure its food security with strengthened production capacity. 

It is crucial to hold both Party committees and governments accountable for food security, and efforts must be made to secure the land area for grain production and increase yields per unit, according to the Central Rural Work Conference, which was held in Beijing from December 19 to 20, Xinhua reported.

Global Times