Advancement Continues for CPEC Agricultural Cooperation Projects after 10 Years of BRI
Published on: December 19, 2023.
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China-Pakistan Agricultural Cooperation Flourishes Under CPEC’s Second Stage
Since the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) entered its second stage, China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation has achieved significant progress. Advanced Chinese agricultural technologies are being promoted in Pakistan, and Chinese and Pakistani universities are collaborating to develop crop cultivation techniques, according to a research report by financial think-tank KASB | KTrade.
Dr. Muhammad Ali Raza, a graduate of China’s Sichuan Agricultural University, along with support from Professor Yang Wenyu, has successfully introduced China’s maize-soybean strip intercropping technology in Pakistan. In 2022, almost 200 farmers adopted this technology, resulting in a demonstrative area of over 400 acres, marking a significant increase from the previous year. This innovative technology will not only reduce Pakistan’s soybean oil imports but also contribute to saving valuable foreign reserves.
Chinese hybrid wheat fields in Pakistan cover an area of about 3,000-5,000 hectares. With approximately 80% of farmers in Pakistan engaged in wheat production, wheat cultivation occupies a substantial portion, about 40%, of the country’s agricultural land. Hybrid wheat seeds are known to produce 40% higher yields per acre compared to conventional varieties, making it possible for Pakistan to overcome shortages caused by floods and resume wheat exports as it did in 2011-2013.
Moreover, the University of Punjab and Wuhan University have joined forces to develop high-yield hybrid rice varieties, aiming to boost Pakistan’s rice exports. This collaboration is expected to contribute to the growth of the rice industry in Pakistan.
The progress achieved in agricultural cooperation between China and Pakistan under CPEC’s second stage is remarkable. The introduction of advanced technologies and collaborations between universities are paving the way for increased productivity and economic development in Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
To find out more about China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation and the impact of CPEC, visit the original article on UrduPoint.com.
