Zhou Xiangchun, an agronomist in Gansu, an arid province in northwest China, received a 600,000-yuan award today for his achievements in developing and popularizing new breeds of wheat and flax.

Zhou is the first scientist to get such a big sum of bounty in the economically backward province.

Lu Hao, governor of Gansu, said that the award was a part of the province's efforts to increase the income of scientific and technological workers, especially those who make outstanding achievements. From this year, one or two scientists will be singled out for the awards every year.

The Tianya No.2 flax developed by Zhou was the most popular flax strain in China in the 1980s, and it set a new record of per-unit yield at that time.

Zhou's achievement in developing anti-rust disease wheat has led to an extra 250 million yuan in direct agricultural earnings in Gansu.

(Xinhua 06/04/2001)