Yuan Longping bred indica hybrid rice on 1973. Indica hybrid rice is the first indica hybrid rice in the world, and is praised as "Oriental magic rice" by foreigners. Indica hybrid rice not only solved the problem of China with a large population but also brought a green revolution to the world food industry. Therefore, Yuan Longping won the title of "Father of Hybrid Rice" and many international awards. Indica rice has strong stems, developed roots, excellent rice quality, strong stress resistance, strong tillering ability, wide adaptability, large panicle and many grains, and the yield per mu exceeds 1000 kg.

UNESCO Director-General Mbo called Yuan Longping's achievements "the second green revolution" after the international cultivation of semi-dwarf rice in 1970s. Dr Swaminathan, director of the International Rice Research Institute and former Indian Minister of Agriculture, called Yuan Longping "the father of hybrid rice".