Continued Progress in CPEC Agricultural Cooperation Projects After 10 Years of BRI
Published on: December 20, 2023.
Filed under:
China-Pakistan Agricultural Cooperation Flourishes under CPEC
Since the second stage of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) began, the collaboration between China and Pakistan in the agricultural sector has yielded significant achievements. In a research report titled “10 Years of Belt and Road Initiative – CPEC,” released by the financial think-tank KASB | KTrade, it was revealed that advanced Chinese agricultural technologies have been successfully introduced in Pakistan. Additionally, Chinese and Pakistani universities have joined forces to develop crop cultivation techniques.
Dr. Muhammad Ali Raza, a graduate of China’s Sichuan Agricultural University, played a key role in promoting China’s maize-soybean strip intercropping technology in Pakistan, with the support of Professor Yang Wenyu. This initiative has been successful in convincing nearly 200 farmers to adopt the technology in 2022 alone. As a result, the total area dedicated to maize-soybean strip intercropping has increased to over 400 acres in Pakistan, which is about 2.67 times more than the previous year. This technology not only contributes to the reduction of soybean oil imports but also helps Pakistan save valuable foreign reserves.
Furthermore, Chinese hybrid wheat demonstration fields in Pakistan have been established on approximately 3,000-5,000 hectares of land. Given that about 80% of farmers in Pakistan are involved in wheat production, with wheat cultivation occupying 40% of the country’s total agricultural land, the adoption of hybrid wheat seeds is crucial. Hybrid wheat seeds offer a 40% higher yield per acre compared to conventional varieties. This increased yield will enable Pakistan to overcome shortages caused by natural disasters such as floods, and even resume wheat exports as it did from 2011 to 2013.
In addition to hybrid wheat, efforts are also being made to boost Pakistan’s rice exports. The University of Punjab and Wuhan University are collaborating on the development of high-yield hybrid rice varieties. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance Pakistan’s position as one of the leading rice exporters in the world.
Overall, the China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation under the CPEC has brought about remarkable advancements. Through the exchange of knowledge and technologies, Pakistan has made significant progress in reducing import dependence, improving crop yields, and increasing agricultural exports.
Source
