China-Pakistan collaboration brings advantages to agricultural producers
Published on: October 17, 2023.
Filed under:
Farmers in Pakistan could soon benefit from two high-yield wheat varieties developed by Chinese and Pakistani scientists. These new varieties have strong resistance against yellow rust, a destructive crop disease that is prevalent in Pakistan. Approval for commercial production of these varieties is expected as early as next year.
The project is being led by He Zhonghu, director of the China-Pakistan Joint Wheat Molecular Breeding International Lab. He is also a top wheat scientist at the Institute of Crop Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. These new varieties are expected to significantly increase local wheat output in Pakistan.
Currently, the crops are being tested in experimental fields in Pakistan. The team is awaiting clearance from local authorities to begin mass production of the new varieties outside of lab settings.
The Institute of Crop Sciences, based in Beijing, runs the lab in partnership with Pakistan’s Quaid-i-Azam University and the National Agricultural Research Centre. This collaboration is part of a broader science and technology exchange program initiated by China to assist developing nations. The lab’s main objectives are to test and select Chinese germ plasm in Pakistan, train local scientists, and research new wheat varieties to enhance crop yield in the country.
Wheat is the most important food staple in Pakistan; however, the crop’s output per hectare is only half the level of that in China. This gap is due to factors such as the use of less-developed wheat varieties, inadequate application of fertilizers and pesticides, and a lack of mechanized farming. Through advancements in molecular breeding research, China has become a frontrunner in boosting wheat yields.
The Chinese-Pakistani collaboration in developing enhanced wheat varieties is just one example of the productive agricultural exchanges taking place under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Source: [China Daily](https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/)
