The Chinese-developed hybrid rice variety 'Honglian' is well-suited to Pakistan's climate challenges and has captured 40% of the country's hybrid rice seed market, according to Punjab University agronomist Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq. He shared these details at a recent conference in Wuhan, central China, according to a report carried by Gwadar Pro. The Honglian rice, developed by scientists at Wuhan University in China, is particularly valued for its stress resistance and high yield, making it an ideal choice for Pakistan's climate.

In July of this year, a new Honglian variety, HP4, co-developed by scientists from Punjab University and Wuhan University, was approved in Pakistan under the registered name 'PU786', said Dr. Ashfaq, who is the head of Plant Genetics at Punjab University's College of Agriculture. According to official data, the new variety can more than triple per-acre yields for Pakistani farmers, boosting them from approximately 1,600 kg to 5,600 kg.

This agricultural collaboration between the two universities, which is part of the broader China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), began in 2019. Early trials showed Honglian varieties outperforming top local strains by over 12%. In 2020, a joint research centre was established to further facilitate the partnership through building agricultural bases, holding academic conferences, and conducting personnel exchanges and training.

"Such cooperation and exchanges have been beneficial to both Pakistan and China," Ashfaq said. "It’s a win-win partnership." The Honglian hybrid rice has been cultivated on more than 45 million hectares worldwide, making a significant contribution to food production and security in Belt and Road (BRI) countries.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China