A sea-rice field in the pilot plantation zone in Pinghu city, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

Late-season rice has recently entered the market in East China's Zhejiang province, where agricultural scientists have made numerous achievements in developing and spreading new rice varieties in recent years.

Sea rice grows in salinized, hard, sandy soil and is often hit by typhoons. Hence, successful sea-rice varieties have to be highly resilient to hostile environments. Three newly introduced sea-rice varieties were recently harvested on the coastline of Pinghu city, with a maximum production volume of 400 kilograms per mu (666 square meters).

Qingtian county has a 1,200-year-long tradition of raising fish in rice field waters. The rice-fish farming system in Qingtian was designated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as one of the five Globally Important Agricultural Heritages in 2005, becoming the first Chinese recipient of the honor. However, the flavor of the rice was commonplace in the past. Two new rice varieties have been spread across the county in recent years, making both the fish and rice grown in the county tasty and popular among consumers. 

Dabo Mountain in Yongjia county was once an iron ore production base. Years ago, locals started to grow rice on a large scale with technical support from the Hangzhou-based China National Rice Research Institute. The precious rice soon became a hot seller for its unusually high iron content.

Highly resistant starch rice, developed by scientists at Zhejiang University and the Jinhua Academy of Agricultural Sciences, started to reach the market in 2007 as the first rice variety to target diabetic patients.

A rice-fish farming system in Qingtian county, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]