A Chinese agricultural expert is calling for the development of more water conservation projects in rural areas and adopting scientific irrigation measures to promote grain production.

Yuan Longping, dubbed the "father of hybrid rice" in China, says this year's grain price increase has made people concerned about agricultural production. Irrigation plays a key role in agriculture but the water conservation projects in rural areas have not yet reached their full potential.

He says a scientific irrigation system will help farmers economize water and increase yields.

Yuan Longping also called on governments at all levels to pay close attention to the use of more advanced irrigation technologies and implement them as soon a possible.