Yuan Longping, known as the father of hybrid rice, is inching
toward the finish line in a decade-long race to raise crop
yield.
The race started in 1997, with the 700 kg per mu (0.066 hectare)
and 800 kg targets realized in 2000 and 2004; before he set his
sights on 900 kg.
"I hope hybrid rice with a per-mu yield of over 900 kg is grown
nationwide by 2010," Yuan, 78, said at his experimental paddy field
in Hainan Province.
The yield increase is vital to feeding the country's growing
population, now at 1.3 billion and expected to reach 1.6 billion by
2030.
In recognition of his achievements, Yuan was on Wednesday chosen
on CCTV's list of the Top 10 Annual Business Figures.
Yuan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, did not
show up at the awards ceremony, because he was too busy with his
work in Hainan.
"Trial planting projects are also going on in 20 counties in
Hunan. So far, 18 have yielded successful results," said Yuan, who
has devoted himself to the development of hybrid rice since the
1960s.
Zhai Huqu, president of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural
Sciences, said hybrid rice was one of the biggest success stories
in the country's agricultural history. It was first developed in
the early 1970s, and has added 400 million tons in the following
two and half decades.
Thanks to the progress in the research of high-yield rice,
China's total yield hit 500 million tons last year although
planting acreage dwindled.
Yuan's "super rice" is now grown in more than half of China's
paddy fields as well as more than 20 other countries.
CCTV said Yuan's rice should be seen as the biggest
made-in-China brand.
An earlier online poll showed that the majority of Chinese
believe Yuan deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to
fighting hunger.
(China Daily February 1, 2008)
