China's hybrid rice has long been linked with Madagascar, so much so that a depiction of it even appears on the country's highest-denomination banknote.

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has highlighted this symbol as a reflection of rice's central role in the lives of his people, saying, "We hope to transform our country through the development of rice cultivation."

In 2007, a China-aided hybrid rice demonstration project was launched in Madagascar by a team of experts from the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Over the past decade, these specialists have established a deep connection with the country, driving local rice development.

By 2023, more than 50,000 hectares of hybrid rice had been cultivated in Madagascar, making it the African nation with the largest area and highest yield of hybrid rice.

During the 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in June 2023, Rakotoson Philibert, former secretary general at the Ministry of Agriculture of Madagascar, brought hybrid rice grown in Africa to pay tribute at the grave of Chinese scientist Yuan Longping, known as the "father of hybrid rice". He said that without Yuan, Madagascar would not have hybrid rice.

Rajoelina believes hybrid rice is propelling Madagascar's agricultural development, saying that his country will accelerate the localization and large-scale planting of hybrid rice, aiming to become Africa's true 'granary'.

Last month, Rajoelina attended the signing ceremony of Madagascar's 2,000-hectare hybrid rice seed localization project in Changsha, Central China's Hunan province.

"We have high expectations for this project and plan to invest $25 million in agricultural development," he added.

By localizing hybrid rice and expanding its cultivation, this project aims to rapidly increase food production, significantly improve farmers' livelihoods, and accelerate the modernization of agriculture.