China’s Honglian hybrid rice has shown promising results in Pakistan, where three varieties H13, H14 and H15 achieved yields of 11.3 tonnes per hectare, 12.3 tonnes per hectare and 10.8 tonnes per hectare, respectively.
Among them, H14 stood out for its large panicles and high grain number, which increased yields by more than 12 percent compared to local varieties, according to Professor Zhu Renshan, director of the China-Pakistan Joint Research Center for Honglian Hybrid Rice.
Earlier this month, Xu Zhiyong from Professor Zhu’s team visited demonstration bases in Lahore, Multan, Sahiwal and Vehari, and met with representatives from Punjab University and major local agricultural companies. On October 19, the center held an on-site meeting in Vehari to promote new technologies, which was attended by more than 200 participants, including farmers, dealers and agri-tech experts from Punjab and Sindh.
Read: Cooperation between Pakistan and China on hybrid rice advances
The project, first launched in Pakistan in 2018, is a joint initiative of Wuhan University and Punjab University. It established the China-Pakistan Joint Research Center for Honglian Hybrid Rice in 2020, together with the Hubei Science and Technology Association, to improve national food security and boost rice exports. The demonstration plots cover key regions for rice cultivation in Punjab, ensuring that the varieties perform well in various agro-climatic zones.
Over the past five years, the center has developed experimental and demonstration bases covering more than 30 acres, conducted five technical training sessions for more than 300 Pakistani farmers, technicians, dealers and government officials, and organized three international seminars on cooperative development. The project also integrates modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, 5G and remote sensing to improve yield, resilience and mechanized seed production.
Read more: Chinese hybrid rice to reform production
Honglian hybrid rice’s heat tolerance and stable seed formation rate under extreme weather conditions make it particularly suitable for Pakistan’s climate, offering higher yields to farmers and potential to expand rice exports.
In June 2025, the Honglian HP4 variety received registration from the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council’s Rice Variety Evaluation Committee, marking a milestone in its adoption across the country.
The initiative not only improves domestic food security but also provides a platform for long-term cooperation between China and Pakistan in agricultural science and technology, safeguarding mutual food security and deepening strategic ties.
