The research achievements in hybrid rice of scientist Yuan
Longping, internationally regarded as the "father of hybrid rice,"
rewrote the history of rice cultivation in China in the second half
of the 20th century. In 2003, Yuan Longping made a breakthrough in
bilinear hybrid rice research. In two small demonstration fields,
the per-hectare yield of super-class hybrid rice reached 12,112 kg
and 12,261 kg and now large scale trials of this super-class hybrid
rice are being conducted. Yuan Longping's next goal is to produce
super-class hybrid rice with a yield in excess of 13,500 kg per ha
before 2008.?
Government programs play a significant role in improving sci-tech
knowledge by conveying advanced sci-tech achievements to the
countryside and to every rural household; examples include the
Spark Program, the Promotion of Important Achievements Plan, the
Bumper Harvest Plan, and the Prairie Fire Program.
