OVC company's 'Chinese seeds' spread to over 30 countries

Khalil Hashimi, Pakistan's Ambassador to China, recently highlighted in an interview with Hubei Satellite TV that a rapeseed variety developed by Wuhan Qingfa-Hesheng Seed Co in the Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China, or OVC) has significantly boosted Pakistan's edible oil production.

Since its establishment in 2004, the company has distributed hybrid rice, melons, rapeseed, and other seeds to over 30 countries and regions, including Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, generating over $70 million in export revenue. Its new high-quality hybrid rapeseed variety, HC-021C, has been China's top export for several years.

The HC-021C variety developed by Qingfa-Hesheng. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

"Pakistan is a major consumer of edible oil, with an annual demand of about 5 million metric tons, 89 percent of which is imported due to low self-sufficiency," explained Zhu Xiaobo, founder of Qingfa-Hesheng. The company spent ten years developing HC-021C, the first foreign rapeseed registered in Pakistan, marking a breakthrough in producing high-quality rapeseed oil.

Qingfa-Hesheng has also introduced comprehensive planting, harvesting, and oil extraction techniques to Pakistan. Collaborating with local enterprises, they developed harvesting equipment that reduced loss rates from 8 percent to 3 percent and trained local farmers in oil extraction, increasing yields by 10 percent.

Qingfa-Hesheng holds a field meeting in Pakistan. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan has listed this OVC-made rapeseed project as a key livelihood project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Zhu stated, "We will continue to produce the 'Chinese seeds', contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative, and become a 'civilian ambassador' in international relations."