Seed processing in east China's Jiangsu Province is underway at full speed as the harvest season kicks off for hybrid rice grown for seed production.
At a modern agricultural industrial park in the province's Taizhou City, rice seeds have become ripe enough for harvest at a major seed processing base, a specialized farm spanning 370 hectares, dedicated to producing high-quality, genetically pure rice seeds for farmers to plant, rather than for consumption.
The drying process is critical to ensuring seed quality, preventing moisture imbalance caused by high temperatures, and reducing the risk of mold. Pre-treatment technologies are also used to remove impurities and preserve germination rates.
"This year, hybrid rice at this base has shown excellent growth with large ears, plump grains, and a high seed setting rate. The average yield is expected to be about 225 kilograms per mu (about 3,375 kilogram per hectare)," said Zhang Haipo, production director at a local seed company.
The harvest marks an early start to the autumn grain season in Jiangsu.
According to the provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs, about three million hectares of autumn crops, including rice, corn, and soybeans, have been planted across the province, with full-scale harvesting expected to begin in early October.
Hybrid rice seed harvest underway in east Chian's Jiangsu
