Hongqi Seed Industry secures new rice variety approval in Nepal

Researchers work in a laboratory of Hongqi Seed Industry. [Photo/WeChat account: hlfb0523]

A long-grain rice variety developed by Jiangsu Hongqi Seed Industry in Taizhou has been approved and registered in Nepal, making it the company's 12th crop variety to be certified in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The approval caps a seven-year market entry process in Nepal. Since registering on trade platforms in 2018, Hongqi Seed Industry has steadily expanded its presence in the country. By 2024, its sales network covered the entire Nepalese market, with annual orders reaching 40 metric tons.

Hongqi Seed Industry's overseas expansion dates back to 2015, when it achieved a breakthrough with its first export of hybrid rice seeds. Today, seeds from Taizhou are present in multiple Belt and Road countries. Cumulative exports have reached nearly 20,000 tons, with total transactions exceeding $62 million. The city's annual export volume now accounts for about 15 percent of China's national total.

Its parent company, Taizhou Nongfa Group, is further accelerating the export of both varieties and technologies. In 2025 alone, four new vegetable varieties entered the overseas approval process, marking a shift from a rice-focused portfolio to a more diversified range of crops. Trial and demonstration programs are underway for five varieties in Indonesia, three in Nigeria, four in Cuba, and two in Angola, with several showing strong performance.

Overseas clients visit Hongqi Seed Industry in Taizhou, Jiangsu. [Photo/WeChat account: hlfb0523]

Alongside market expansion, the group has strengthened international cooperation. It has established long-term partnerships with agricultural enterprises in countries including the Philippines, Pakistan, Nepal and Vietnam. Together with partners such as Pakistan, the group has co-developed 15 hectares of planting bases, trained more than 150 local technical specialists, and provided on-site technical guidance.

These efforts aim to promote win-win cooperation through improved seed adoption, equipment upgrades, technology optimization and agricultural value chain development.