The Sanya based Paddy Field National Park on China’s tropical island of Hainan now has a total of about 1000 mu (67 hectares) of rice paddies primarily displaying some new varietals developed by national scientific institutions and seed companies using "nanfan" breeding technology. The Park showcases the ongoing technology and innovation which are accelerating the agricultural development of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

A rice paddy in Sanya's Paddy Field National Park.

Nanfan (literally meaning "southern breeding and multiplication") refers to the agtech activities, agricultural research, varietal breeding, and seed certification which take place annually every October to May in Hainan's Sanya, Lingshui, and Ledong by taking advantage of the tropical climate and environmental conditions that can satisfy the annual growth and production of plants.

A seed research and multiplication base in the Paddy Field National Park was established under the guidance of China’s “Father of Hybrid Rice” Yuan Longping, who passed away in May at 91. Yuan proposed the goal of achieving an average yield of 1500 kilograms per mu (100kg per hectare) by double cropping hybrid rice. On May 9, the 30 mu (2 hectare) test field with the “Chaoyouqianhao” super hybrid rice developed under Yuan Longping's guidance yielded an average of 1004.83 kilograms in its early cropping; the late cropping started planting on July 15 and 16 and is expected to be harvested in October and November of this year.  

A pathway named after China’s “Father of Hybrid Rice” Yuan Longping in Sanya's Paddy Field National Park.

Recently, a media group consisting of journalists, photographers and communication officers were taken on a trip around Hainan. They were invited to visit the Paddy Field National Park and learn about how important this breeding technique is to creating new crop varietals. One of the Sichuan media attendees stated that she was deeply moved by the achievements made by Yuan Longping’s team in creating hybrid rice and helping improve the quality, quantity and overall availability of food around the world.

Media guests visit Sanya's Paddy Field National Park.

Lara Netherlands, one of the media guests, tries her hand at planting rice seedlings under instruction of park staff.

According to park staff, the climate of the Hainan Seed Breeding and Multiplication Base allows for two or three crops a year and greatly shortens the period of the selection and production for a new crop varietal, since this kind of scientific research would otherwise be put delayed by weather limitations if it took place in the north.

Over the past few days, the media guests have also visited Haikou, Qionghai, Wanning, Danzhou, Qiongzhong, Wuzhishan, and Ledong for a better understanding and close look at the development of the Hainan FTP.