[Explanation] Sanya is located in the south of Hainan Island. With its unique natural conditions in winter and spring every year, it not only attracts a large number of tourists, but also attracts agricultural science and technology workers from all over the country to come to engage in southern breeding and seed production.

  From January 28th to 29th, the reporter saw in Sanya that the Nanfan base was as hot as local tourism, and many "Nanfan people" spent the 2023 Spring Festival holiday in the busy breeding.

  [Concurrent] Chen Ming, Ph.D., National Corn Improvement Center, College of Agriculture, China Agricultural University

  Especially this year (Spring Festival) happens to be the peak time of pollination, so I dare not leave at this time. Even if skilled workers do it, experts dare not leave.

  [Concurrent] Ding Zhongfang, Senior Agronomist of Sichuan Aolixing Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.

  During the Spring Festival, we are still concerned about our three-acre land, which needs to be irrigated and sometimes hybridized.

  [Explanation] At the beginning of the new year, "Nanfan people" also ushered in a "good start", and achieved some phased results and breakthroughs in work.

  [Concurrent] Fan Shaozhu, host of eggplant genetics and breeding project of Harbin Academy of Agricultural Sciences

  We have achieved phased results so far. From my personal (eggplant genetics and breeding) project, I have selected the ideal strain.

  [Concurrent] Ding Zhongfang, Senior Agronomist of Sichuan Aolixing Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.

  The breakthrough for me is that I have found the time point for three generations per year (Southern Rice Propagation).

  [Explanation] While achieving results, in fact, many "Nanfan people" also have their own "regrets".

In order to seize the golden season of winter and spring in Sanya, "Nanfan people" are busy in the fields and laboratories every day. Although the base is close to tourist attractions, it is difficult to have time to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

  [Concurrent] Chen Ming, Ph.D., National Corn Improvement Center, College of Agriculture, China Agricultural University

  In fact, many breeders don’t have time to travel at all, and they stick to the fields when they come. For example, some of our juniors and sisters got off the plane from Phoenix Airport and came to the field before they had time to put their luggage; I have been in Hainan for six years, and the big and small caves (scenic spots) are only a few kilometers away, and I can go there by bicycle, but I have never visited; some of them came to make up for this regret after graduation.

  [Explanation] Every year after the autumn harvest across the country, tens of thousands of agricultural science and technology experts from more than 800 scientific research institutes, universities and enterprises in nearly 30 provinces come to Sanya, Lingshui, Ledong and other places in the south of Hainan Island to engage in the southern breeding system kind of work.

The Nanfan Base is known as the "incubator" and "accelerator" for the selection and breeding of new varieties in China, the "adjustment bank" for agricultural production seeds and the "appraisal room" for natural seed quality.

  [Same period] Dai Zhongren, researcher of agricultural technology extension of Harbin Academy of Agricultural Sciences

  The climatic conditions are unparalleled. In our breeding area, in this winter season, Hainan will add another generation, so this is an accelerator for breeders to quickly produce varieties.

  Zhang Yue and Li Yufan report from Sanya, Hainan

Responsible editor: [Zhou Chi]