Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua called for concrete efforts to survey, protect and utilize germplasm resources to lay a sound foundation for the seed industry.

Hu, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while inspecting work in the seed industry in South China’s Hainan province. He learned about protection and utilization of agricultural germplasm resources, and production of natural rubber.

Seeds are the basis of agricultural modernization, Hu said, urging better protection of agricultural germplasm resources based on a thorough census, as well as science-based classification and appraisal.

New crop varieties should be selected and bred for production and application purposes, with breakthroughs in improved varieties, he said, adding enterprises in the seed industry should be nurtured and supported to play a part in protecting and utilizing agricultural germplasm resources and developing new varieties.

Better policies should help research, develop and promote new varieties of natural rubber and applicable machinery for enhanced capacity, quality and benefits, Hu added.