LAHORE: In a major scientific breakthrough, the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics at Punjab University has developed a new hybrid rice variety with the support of Chinese experts.
The new seed is expected to triple per-acre yield, bringing a major boost to Pakistan’s rice production.
According to Dr Muhammad Ashfaq, Chairman of the department, the new hybrid rice seed has been developed in collaboration with Wuhan University in China.
The seed belongs to the Honglian hybrid category and is the first of its kind produced in Pakistan.
Dr Ashfaq shared that the hybrid variety can increase yield up to 140 maunds per acre, which is nearly three times the output of traditional rice crops.
He also confirmed that the new seed has received approval from the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) after successful field trials in various cities across all four provinces.
The new hybrid rice is resistant to bacterial diseases, extreme heat, and harmful pests, making it more reliable for farmers facing unpredictable weather and rising climate challenges.
