Dubai 'desert rice' shows advancement of Chinese agriculture

Rice from China has been successfully planted in the deserts of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and its yield has hit a record high, leading to an agricultural breakthrough in the city.

The seawater rice yield reached 629 kilograms per mu (0.06 hectare), a result observed by experts from China and Dubai on June 6. This yield is on par with the advanced level of international rice planting in desert areas and saline-alkali soil.

The sea rice project, launched by the Wuhan Haidao International Agricultural Development Co of Hubei province last October, broke the record for Dubai desert rice planting in terms of planting area and rice yield. This achievement was praised by the ruler of Dubai and the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Dubai.

Invited by Dubai, experts from the company provided all technological services for seawater rice planting in Dubai's deserts and developed the proprietary "Haidao 86" rice species. They began their work in November.

Dubai has quite special agricultural, ecological and climate conditions. In other words, disadvantages — including low temperatures at night for the seeding stage, high temperatures and dry winds in the earing period and low rainfall. The favorable period for rice growth is also quite short. Any small mistake in cultivation may lead to failure, the Wuhan company said.

Barren soil, insects, bird strikes and shortage of water have been major hindrances for rice planting in Dubai deserts, the company said, adding pesticides and inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers were not allowed in the project area.

In recent years, many domestic and international companies tried to plant rice in Dubai without satisfying results due to existing obstacles, said company investor Xie Xiaoqing.

But the experts finally succeeded by applying creative seeding methods, scientific water management and strict growth process control.

The success of the project has presented the technological progress of Chinese agriculture to the world and benefited people across the globe, and will help in promoting both international cooperation and the sharing of agricultural technology, she added.

Liu Jianing in Beijing contributed to this story.