Since 1993, Dr. Tsuchiya Takeshi has cooperated with the Rice Research Institute of Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences to cultivate japonica hybrid rice combination ¡°III YOU 98¡±, producing over 600 kilograms per mu. Its high quality has earned an international rank of Level One and in Japan it has been given a Level-A ranking. In China, it has also been listed under the National High-tech Research and Development Program (Program 863). In 2005, the Ministry of Agriculture rated it as high-quality super rice and extended its planting area to over 200 thousand mu. The seeds of the rice were then exported to Japan promoting agricultural development for earning foreign currency and increasing income for farmers, a total profit of 40 million RMB¡£
