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Tributes flow for Yuan Longping, who helped save China from hunger

  • UN praises Yuan for contributions to food security and the fight against poverty
  • Police disperse well-wishers at Changsha funeral home and investigate allegedly disrespectful remarks about the scientist online

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A Tianjin landmark lights up in remembrance of Chinese scientist Yuan Longping. Photo: Xinhua
Holly Chik
Tributes have flowed for Yuan Longping, a Chinese agronomist who died aged 90 on Saturday after making leading contributions to food security.
In the city of Changsha where Yuan, “the father of hybrid rice”, was hospitalised before his death, traffic police had to disperse crowds at the Mingyangshan funeral home, where a memorial service will be held for Yuan on Monday morning, according to local media reports.

Crowds also gathered in the rain outside Changsha’s China National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Centre where the scientist worked, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

People’s Daily posted footage of well-wishers lining the streets as the hearse carrying Yuan drove by on Saturday with many young people calling out to “Grandpa Yuan”.

President Xi Jinping sent his condolences to Yuan’s family through the Communist Party branch in Hunan province, lauding Yuan’s contribution to China’s food security, state news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday.

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Yuan Longping’s funeral draws large crowds as China mourns ‘father of hybrid rice’

Yuan Longping’s funeral draws large crowds as China mourns ‘father of hybrid rice’

Xinhua also ran a rare commentary on Saturday suggesting the country fly the national flag at half-mast to honour the scientist.

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