The "Father of Hybrid Rice" Yuan Longping is to head up the first branch of the China National Hybrid Rice Research & Development Center in Tianjin. Yuan Longping, of the China Engineering Academy, is confident that the project can boost the yield of "Xiaozhan Rice," a local specialty that has grown into a national favorite over the past few hundred years.

Yuan Longping has taken up the post of the R&D center's chief scientist and will oversee the application of hybrid technology with the development of the Xiaozhan super-rice.

Yuan said, "We've introduced our hybrid rice technology into Tianjin. I'm confident that in three years we'll increase the per hectare yield of Xiaozhan Rice from 7,500 kilos to 10,500 kilos."

Tianjin municipality officials say that because of the lack of water resources and the shortage of cultivated land, Xiaozhan Rice yields have been very low over the past few years, something that needs to be improved.

The vice mayor of Tianjin Municipality said, "Because of the shortage of water, we have restricted the cultivation of Xiaozhan Rice. Now Professor Yuan has suggested we research water-saving rice, so we can increase the cultivation area."

Both Professor Yuan and the Tianjin Municipality believe that if this project is successful, then it can be extended to the west, northwest and northeast of China.

(CCTV.com August 18, 2003)