China known for its innovative tech innovations has now gained attention due to its new rice-variety ‘Honglian’ which is well-suited to Pakistan’s climatic conditions and challenges. According to Punjab University agronomist Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq, the new rice variety ‘Honglian’ has captured 40% of the country’s hybrid rice seed market. The details were shared at a conference held in Wuhan, central China.
The Honglian rice, developed by scientists at Wuhan University in China, is valued especially for its stress resistance and high yield, making it an ideal choice for Pakistan’s climate. Pakistan registered this new rice variety under the name of ‘PU786’ and developed in July 2025. The HP4 variety was co-developed by scientists from Punjab University and Wuhan University. The new variety is expected to yield more than triple per-acre for Pakistani farmers, boosting them from approximately 1,600 kg to 5,600 kg.
Journey for Pakistan’s Hybrid Rice Sector Began in 2019
The agricultural collaboration between the two universities, to produce Pakistan’s hybrid rice sector began in 2019, where early trails showing Honglian varieties outperforming top local strains by over 12%. Again 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. The conferences and trainings later were proved to be beneficial for both China and Pakistan. Both the nations named it 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.
For the unversed, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a Chinese-led massive infrastructure investment project aimed at improving connectivity, trade, and communication across Eurasia, Latin America, and Africa.