The ancient cultivation of rice first originated in the mid-to-low reaches of the Yangtze River over 10,000 years ago, Chinese experts and scholars stated in a report released during a seminar on Nov. 9.

The scholars believe that the domestication of wild rice was the beginning of primitive agriculture, and its production, intake and storage were developed soon after. They added that the remains of rice plantations dating back 10,000 years, found in Wannian County, Jiangxi province, have proven the theory that rice originated in China.

The seminar, which was about the origin of rice cultivation in China, was held in Wannian County. The event served as a platform for experts and scholars to exchange updates on field-specific research, and to showcase recent archaeological achievements.