A training base aiming to help foreign agrotechnicians and governmental officials acquire China's world-leading hybrid-rice cultivating technique was officially launched yesterday.

Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture, a state-owned company named after "the Father of China's Hybrid Rice," aims to train 5,000 foreigners, establish 10 breeding centers and expand overseas cultivation bases to 10,000 hectares within 10 years. China's technical assistance in hybrid rice could help overseas farmers breed new crop varieties and reap harvests on their home turf.

Established in June 1999, the company headed by Academician Yuan Longping was yesterday designated as China's first training base for the spread of hybrid-rice breeding and cultivation techniques.

So far more than 2,000 government officials and agrotechnicians from 50 countries have been trained through 30 courses.

Board Chairman Wu Yueshi believed that the recognition from the Ministry of Commerce would speed up China's training of overseas agricultural personnel.

"Without skilled technicians and well-informed government officials, hybrid-rice breeding and cultivation techniques could not be spread far across the world, let alone ease global grain crops shortage," said Wu.

Among the countries to benefit are Guinea-Bissau and Liberia.

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2009)