[🇵🇰] Pakistan Agriculture Updates

ghazi · Jan 26, 2024

Pak-China Alliance Drives Upgrading of the Agricultural Material Industry

By Saira Iqbal | Gwadar Pro
Jan 26, 2024

Islamabad, -In January, a Chinese delegation led by Ningbo Feidoodoo E-commerce Company, the agricultural material e-commerce platform under IBI Guolian, visited Pakistan to explore collaboration opportunities with Pakistani agricultural material companies.

The delegation held productive discussions with representatives from Auriga Group, Agrow Limited, NF Biotech and Sayban Group, etc, marking a significant milestone in China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation. During the exchanges, Tang Zhao, Cross-border E-commerce Manager at Feidoodoo Company, emphasized Feidoodoo's development strategy based on industrial e-commerce and big data.

"Our company is committed to integrating cutting-edge technologies such as the internet, IoT, big data and AI into the agricultural industry." Tang Zhao also recognized Pakistan's abundant arable land resources and the significance of agriculture as a crucial sector, envisioning promising potential for international agricultural trade in Pakistan.

Liu Bo, Director of Cross-border E-commerce Transactions at Feidoodoo Company, added, "Feidoodoo aims to establish long-term and stable partnerships with Pakistani agricultural companies. With our expertise in digital systems, such as the platform aggregation model, intelligent supply chain, and cloud factory construction, we are well-positioned to support our Pakistani partners in overcoming operational challenges and driving comprehensive industry upgrades."

Mr. Abdul Sattar, Deputy General Manager of the R&D Department at Sayban Group, expressed the company's mission to provide high-quality products to farmers, contributing to the overall advancement of national agricultural development. “We hope that through the cooperation with Feidoodoo, we can jointly promote the digital development of agriculture and contribute to the global sustainable development of agriculture with industrial internet technology.”

As a result of the Feidoodoo delegation's visit to Pakistan, they successfully established preliminary cooperation intentions with several Pakistani companies, paving the way for future collaborative endeavors in the agricultural sector.

ghazi · Feb 14, 2024

USDA trains over seventy thousand farmers, stakeholders

Associated Press Of Pakistan
Jan 31, 2024

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) imparted skill-based trainings to over 70,170 farmers, workers and suppliers of different crops during the past seven-and-half years across the country to enhance crop output and farm income.

The skill-development trainings were imparted through the Pakistan Agricultural Development (PAD) project to farmers, workers and suppliers of red chillies, tomatoes, bananas and dates across the 12 districts of Punjab and Sindh provinces.

The project worth $20 million, spanning over 7.5 years focused on the districts of Sheikhpure, Khanaewal, Multan, Muzaffarghar, Lorhran and Bhawlapure of the Punjab Province. The project also targeted the districts Thatta, Hyderabad/Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Mirpur Khas, Umerkot and Khairpure and improved the livelihood of about 1,215,038 individuals in these areas.

The project, which aimed to increase farm productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, improve the quality of the produce and expand trades also benefited about 7,100 women in the targeted districts and helped to enhance their income and empower them economically.

ghazi · Feb 26, 2024

Recognising agriculture’s potential

Kamran H Mushtaq
February 26, 2024

It is ironic that the sector that provides livelihood to more than 40 per cent of the country’s workforce is so neglected. The contribution of agriculture is brushed aside by quoting just 22pc-23pc as its contribution to GDP.

Regardless of the debate on the authenticity of the figures, this percentage of 22pc-23pc cannot be seen in isolation as agriculture provides inputs to various other sectors like manufacturing, transport, storage, wholesale and retail trade etc.

A country’s economy is just like a book. It has to be read and analysed as a harmonised system where every sector is viewed holistically, and its linkages with the overall economy must be acknowledged.

More than 200 agricultural research institutions in the country are duly registered, ranging from agricultural universities to agricultural/livestock research institutions. However, the actual output of these institutions is minimal.

The institutes are supposed to be the avenues of knowledge creation, but name any agricultural institute in Pakistan, and its contribution to agricultural growth and sustainability is yet to be witnessed.

There is also an issue of scope limitation of these institutions because of less research-oriented funding. The agricultural institutes’ funding is restricted to salaries and pensions. Research grants are still viewed as novel ideas.

There is an immense waste of resources owing to a lack of coordination between the institutions. For example, if institute(s) in Sindh are researching on say some synthesised fertiliser, one must consider the chances that some institute(s) in Punjab are researching the same synthesised fertiliser.

Agricultural mechanisation is yet another unfulfilled dream. How can we keep capitalising on the green revolution of the 1960s, as that revolution was also a product of mechanised seeds and improved machinery?

Unfortunately, Pakistan has not yet produced a single tech-based seed variety that can transform the landscape of agricultural productivity. Pakistan still relies on imported tech-based synthetic seeds.

Agricultural financing is the key to improved productivity, provided the financing is provided to the real farmer with ease and speed. There is a myth about agricultural loans being provided by financial institutions in Pakistan. As it’s said, the devil lies in details; the agricultural loan, in general parlance and official discussions, mainly refers to the entire en-block financing by the banks.

In fact, a big chunk of that agricultural loan is passed on by the commercial banks to the provincial and federal food departments/authorities for the procurement of wheat. How can we equate the loan used by the state in purchasing wheat crops as a loan advanced to poor farmers for improving agricultural productivity?

The subsidy on fertiliser is another paradox. In Pakistan, the state grants subsidies on fertiliser to reduce the cost of agricultural production, but in effect, this subsidy is enjoyed by the corporate fertiliser manufacturing entities.

The state’s expense on fertiliser subsidy actually profits the fertiliser manufacturer at the altar of the farmer, as evidenced by the fertiliser crisis over the last couple of years.

Unfortunately, every sector under Pakistan’s regulatory regime performs at a lesser scale than private sectors. Justifications of equity and social protection aside, this is the reality. See the commodities with no regulation (like rice, maize in crops and poultry in livestock), their productivity sustainably increases every year (with few exceptions) without state intervention.

Another menace is climate change. The 2022 floods devastated the majority of crops in Sindh, Balochistan and Southern Punjab. Although the loss of staple crops like wheat and rice is for one year/maybe one crop season, but the orchards devastated by flood need years to recoup their productivity.

The date palm trees belt in Upper Sindh and South Punjab, which has historically been a source of earning foreign exchange through exports, is still recovering from the unprecedented devastation of the 2022 floods.

Unlike Pakistan, our eastern neighbour has invested heavily in agriculture. The Indian Punjab, though smaller in size, has higher agricultural productivity than Pakistan’s Punjab. Per hectare wheat yield is five tonnes in Indian Punjab against three tonnes in Pakistan’s Punjab when both regions face the same climatic conditions and historical legacy.

Moreover, agriculture everywhere in the world has linkages backward and forward, ie agriculture supports the industry (textile, sports, food, etc) as well as the service sector (transport, packaging, wholesale/retail trade of commodities).

Conversely, agriculture also gets boosted by the industrial and service sectors. For example, when industrial productivity increases, it provides employment avenues, and the family unit’s income increases, so now the family can spend more on agricultural land. In other words, the inflow of income in an agricultural family by virtue of industrial employment removes the bottlenecks/constraints of that family. They can now invest more (physically and financially) in agriculture to increase productivity.

The above situation demands thorough introspection. Until our agricultural sector (including livestock and dairy) is revamped, our economy cannot perform sustainably. Our ideology of defining agriculture as just a bread basket for the country needs to be replaced with identifying agriculture as an economic powerhouse of the country.

ghazi · Feb 26, 2024

Sesame cultivation grew by 187%

Associated Press Of Pakistan
Jan 23, 2024

Owing to the well-coordinated efforts of federal and provincial governments, the sesame seed cultivation in the country during the current season witnessed unprecedented growth of 187 per cent as compared to the sowing of the corresponding period of the last year.

During the period under review, the sesame seeds were cultivated in over 399,493 hectares as compared to the cultivation of 139,400 hectares in the same period of last year, said a press release issued by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research on Tuesday.

The collaboration of provincial agriculture departments of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan has remained instrumental in attaining higher areas under oil seed production, it added.

Sesame cultivation, once confined to limited districts across these provinces, expanded from 18,000 to 135,600 hectares between 1948 and 2019, accompanied by a production increase from 6,000 to 69,600 tons during the same period.

Notably, Punjab is the leading province, contributing 95% of sesame production, followed by Sindh 2.1% and Balochistan 2.2%, it said adding that the average yield of sesame experienced a substantial increase 69% rising from 442 to 750 kg/ha under National Oilseeds Enhancement Program (NOEP).
Starting at a modest $89.320 million in 2020, the nation’s sesame exports surged exponentially, reaching $407 million in 2023.

This unprecedented growth catapulted Pakistan to the 5th position among major sesame exporting nations, with over 80% of exports being absorbed by China.

ghazi · Mar 5, 2024

Over 8.3m cotton bales reach ginneries across Pakistan, 72pc increase recorded

The Nation
Mar 3, 2024

Seed cotton (Phutti) equivalent to over 8.3 million or exactly 8,393,090 bales have reached ginning factories across the country till February 29, 2024, recording an increase in arrivals by 72.16 percent compared to corresponding period of the last year 2023.

According to a fortnightly report of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) released on Sunday, over 8.3 million or 8,385,752 bales have undergone the ginning process i.e. converted into bales. Cotton arrivals in Punjab were recorded at over 4.2 million or 4,278,312 bales, recording an increase in arrival by 42.79.

Sindh generated over 4.1 million or 4,114,778 bales with 118.99 percent increase recorded. Textile sector bought 7,892,085 bales while exporters purchased 292,726 bales and Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) didn’t buy during the cotton season 2023-24.

Sanghar district of Sindh topped with cotton arrival figure of 1,695,410 bales followed by Bahawalnagar district of Punjab with 1,164,491 bales. Total 56 ginning factories were operational in the country. Exactly 208,279 cotton bales unsold stock was available in ginning factories.

ghazi · Mar 9, 2024

Pakistan and Chinese Experts forge agricultural alliance

By Staff Reporter | Gwadar Pro
Mar 8, 2024

ISLAMABAD, Mar. 7 (Gwadar Pro) - To strengthen agricultural collaboration between Pakistan and China, the Diplomatic Insight Group (DIG) has hosted a distinguished delegation from China, comprising top agricultural scientists and business leaders. This significant gathering aimed at fostering discussions on innovative agricultural practices, sustainable development, and the promotion of international agricultural cooperation.

Dr. Farhat Asif, Chairperson of Diplomatic Insight Group, and CEO Mr. Muhammad Asif Noor welcomed the Chinese delegation to their office. The delegation included Prof. Dr. He Cheng from China Agricultural University, Prof. Dr. Wang Jingyu from Northwest A&F University, and executives from leading companies like Tianjin Henrylead Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd, and Fujian Shengnong Biotechnology Co., Ltd, etc. T

he Diplomatic Insight Group's subsidiary, the Centre for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and China Studies- Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS), is already playing a crucial role in enhancing Pakistan's agriculture sector. Through organizing seminars, webinars, and conferences, and facilitating Chinese agricultural companies in Pakistan, IPDS is at the forefront of bridging the knowledge and technology gap between Pakistan and China in agriculture.

The discussion was enriched as the participants discussed the future of agriculture and livestock management, including discussions on the growth of livestock, advancements in vaccinations, and the manufacturing of dairy products like cheese.

Particular emphasis was placed on the innovation in technological and scientific methods to enhance the health and productivity of cows, buffaloes, and other livestock, showcasing a shared vision for a more sustainable and efficient agricultural future. One of the most enlightening parts of the meeting was around the implementation of advanced scientific and technological strategies in livestock management.

The experts explored the development of comprehensive vaccination programs for poultry, innovative cheese manufacturing processes, and breakthroughs in improving the health of cows and buffaloes.

These discussions highlighted the potential for significant improvements in animal welfare and productivity and emphasized the importance of sustainable practices in the global food supply chain. This meeting has laid the groundwork for future joint ventures, exchange programs, and research initiatives that promise to bring about transformative changes in agriculture and livestock management across the globe.

ghazi · Mar 9, 2024

Agricultural equipment under Green Pakistan Initiative reaches Pakistan

By Fatima Javed

The first shipment of agricultural equipment under the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI) has reached Pakistan from China via the Khunjerab Pass, despite challenging weather conditions.

The cargo includes 20 tractors, drip irrigation systems, hose reel-based irrigation systems, satellite, and drone intelligent control platforms.

Additionally, the convoy brings smart agriculture management platforms and the Internet of Things (IoT) for agriculture.

Since its inception in July of last year, GPI has been a significant part of the government's new plan for economic recovery. With Pakistan still in the early stages of industrialization, much of its existing machinery and equipment, including power plants, is due for replacement, making this initiative especially critical for the country.

GPI focuses on a variety of aspects related to forestry, wildlife, the environment, and biodiversity. Its aim is to promote sustainable practices and enhance the well-being of people across all provinces of Pakistan.

ghazi · Mar 13, 2024

Pakistan’s Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has achieved a groundbreaking feat by developing a new wheat seed that promises to revolutionize agriculture in barren lands.

This innovative seed is expected to yield 30 times more wheat than previous varieties, potentially transforming millions of hectares of unproductive land into fertile fields.

The introduction of this seed is a step towards self-sufficiency in wheat production for Pakistan and could significantly contribute to the nation’s agricultural revolution.

ghazi · Apr 5, 2024

Regenerative' farming

The technique is seen as a climate solution, with advocates saying it is the most straightforward way to benefit the planet's health and ensure food security.

Zofeen T. Ebrahim | Sanskrita Bharadwaj
April 5, 2024

Nine years ago, farmer Sultan Ahmed Bhatti gave up tilling the soil and using most fertilisers and pesticides on his farm in Doober Bhattian, Pakistan.

His brothers at first derided him. But soon, his first experiment with growing wheat on raised beds was a runaway success. "We produced more wheat than what we grew on ploughed, flat land," he said.

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Sultan Ahmed Bhatti discussing his farming techniques with visitors. Photo credit: Sukheki farms of Sultan Ahmed Bhatti

Today, researchers, climate experts, and agriculture students visit his 100-acre farm, where he grows wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, and vegetables, to see how he is able to reap bumper crops with minimal input costs.
The magic is in the soil, says Bhatti, picking up a fistful of soil in his calloused hand. "It's all about respecting the soil that treats you so well."
Bhatti is among a small but growing segment of farmers across Pakistan and India pursuing "regenerative" farming techniques. It's part of a global movement to make agriculture more sustainable by increasing soil health through cutting back on chemicals, adding organic material to soil, and diversifying plants and animals on the farm.
[H2]Experts see regenerative farming as a climate solution[/H2]

Farmer Sultan Ahmed Bhatti's first experiment of growing wheat on raised but measured beds on one acre of land was a runway success. "We produced more wheat than what we grew on ploughed, flat land," he said. — Photo credit: Sukheki farms of Sultan Ahmed Bhatti

"Changing agricultural practices is the most straightforward way to benefit the planet's health while ensuring food security in the long term," said Francesco Carnevale Zampaolo, programme director at SRI-2030, a UK-based global organisation that promotes eco-friendly farming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sequestration.
Bio-agriculture scientist Dr Farooq-e-Azam, based in Faisalabad, Pakistan, has been promoting these methods since the early 1970s. He thinks that regenerative agriculture might be the key to addressing food insecurity and reducing intensive farming's role in causing human-induced land degradation.
But there is no one-size-fits-all formula for transitioning to regenerative agriculture. It may require a different set of farming approaches depending on the soil type, weather conditions, and biodiversity. But generally, it means applying a range of techniques to restore the soil's health.
These techniques include adding crop residue, composted manure, and natural rock minerals, says Azam, director of the Research and Development unit at US-based Bontera BioAg.

Illustration by Kulsum Ebrahim

[H2]Indian farmers turning to nature for solutions[/H2]
The same is happening across the border, in India, too, where more farmers are shifting to a natural way of farming.
More than two decades ago, Samir Bordoloi quit his government job to become a farmer. Now, Bordoloi cultivates crops such as turmeric, jackfruit, papaya, and king chilies on nearly 12 acres of land in Sonapur, about 30km from Guwahati, a city in northeast India. The once-derelict ground that Bordoloi took on lease is a flourishing food forest today.
Bordoloi uses zero tillage and no pesticides or chemical fertilisers. Among other innovative techniques, Bordoloi scatters "seed bombs" on his land and lets them germinate naturally. For example, he plucks uniform sized ripened chillies and keeps them aside for seven days.
"Then we slice and take out their seeds and cover them with a mixture made of biochar, cow dung, and bamboo, which is then shaped into a ball."
[H2]Is conventional farming sustainable?[/H2]
Conventional farming in India and Pakistan has taken a toll on agricultural land. Around 30 per cent of the land in India is degraded, according to the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning. More than 50pc of India's farmers are debt-ridden, according to the 2019 National Statistical Office, and often seek alternatives outside of agriculture, or tragically, take their own lives.
In Pakistan, almost three-fourths of the land is degraded, according to Pakistan's climate change ministry.
"Droughts, floods, deforestation, overgrazing, monoculture farming, excessive tillage, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides are the most glaring causes of land degradation on both sides of the fence," said Dr Aamer Irshad, head of programme at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, in Pakistan.
Dr Vinod K. Chaudhary, an associate professor of sociology at Punjab University in Chandigarh, India, who is also a farmer, said farming methods in both countries are unsustainable.
While researching sustainable farming, he came across videos on YouTube and Facebook put up by Asif Sharif, a progressive farmer from Pakpattan, across the border in Pakistan's Punjab province. "I learned plants require moisture, not water, which was the most difficult to believe, as we farmers believe in inundation."
He also learned that soil should be covered, not tilled. Chaudhary decided to try Sharif's techniques and found they worked well. Now he encourages farmers in Indian Punjab and Haryana to try them.
"The soil resets itself with this kind of farming," Chaudhary said.
[H2]Experimenting and finding solutions[/H2]
Regenerative farmers are experimenting and spreading the word.
Mahmood Nawaz Shah, a third-generation progressive farmer with 600 acres of farmland in Tando Allah Yar district of Sindh province, Pakistan, has adopted regenerative agricultural techniques "through hit and trial and finding solutions" now for 25 years.
Shah controls fruit flies on his 45-acre mango orchards through pheromone traps and lets parasites that eat borers loose in the sugarcane field.
"This allows us to delay pesticide sprays as late as possible as well as increase the intervals between two sprays," he explains.
Shah also uses farmyard manure from livestock, grows peas, cauliflower, and black cumin amid 145 acres of sugarcane crop, and adds mineral-rich silt to his land.
"It has all been a gradual and experimental process," he says.
Dhaniram Chetia, a farmer in the village of Pengeri in Tinsukia, in India's Assam state, found an innovative way to keep insects off his harvest: He grows papaya, tomatoes, and bananas on 30pc of his eight acres of land to feed the local birds.
"The birds eat the pests that would otherwise prey on my cash crops. I don't need to use insecticides," he says.
Bordoloi in Assam says elephants have helped in turmeric farming.
"Elephants stamp on our turmeric plants, cut out the thatch and consume the green elephant grass after the rains; we barely need any labour," he added.

Heaps of highly nutritious farmyard manure and silt from the river are spread to enrich and stabilise the soil's pH levels, says Mahmood Nawaz Shah. Photo credit: Mahmood Nawaz Shah/IPS

Sugarcane waste, which otherwise was often burned, causing greenhouse gas emissions, is used to nourish the soil at Mahmood Nawaz Shah's (right) farm. Photo credit: Mahmood Nawaz Shah/IPS

[H2]Does regenerative agriculture live up to the hype?[/H2]
It's hard to find definitive data on regenerative agriculture. Organic farming data may come closest. India has up to 2.66 million hectares of agricultural land under organic farming, according to the The World of Organic Agriculture 2023 yearbook, which places India among "countries with the most organic producers" alongside Uganda and Ethiopia. However, the data given by India's department of agriculture and farmers welfare puts natural farming at just 0.65m hectares.
In Pakistan, the area under naturally organic agriculture in the country is about 1.51m hectares, or about 6pc of all agricultural land, according to the Pakistan Organic Association (POA), while land certified to be cultivated organically is just 64,885 hectares. "The government has not realised the virtues of this kind of farming and there is a complete absence of government policies and practices, particularly for organic food regulations and certification," pointed out Dr Hasan Ali Mughal, founder of POA.
Further, 10pc of the landlords in Pakistan own 52pc of the land, where they prefer to carry out mono-cropping of wheat and rice, said the FAO spokesperson, Irshad. He predicted that regenerative agriculture "cannot become mainstream in Pakistan" due to poor soil conditions.
But soil revival using solutions from nature takes time, says Mohammad Zaman, 47, a farmer from Tando Jan Mohammad of Pakistan's Sindh province's Mirpurkhas district. He met with some initial resistance from his father when he decided to adopt a more "natural" way of farming on their 30 acres of mango orchards in 2017. But he has, so far, spared his 400 or so mango trees from all kinds of insecticides, fungicides, and pesticides. "I sell online and I've realised there is a growing demand for chemical-free fruits among consumers," he said.
Seven years later, he is most satisfied. "I could not have chosen a better path for farming," he said, as the soil fertility is even better than when his father was farming. He also grows ber, or Indian jujube, following the same principles.
"My water application is reduced by 50pc as the dead and live mulch cover keeps the land moist," said Zaman, who also grows sugarcane and bananas. "We broke the myth that sugarcane and bananas are water guzzlers," he said. He, however, uses fertiliser on the banana crop "sparingly" but intends to wean it off in two years.
This was endorsed by Indira Singh, lead at the School for Environment and Sustainability at the Indian Institute for Human Settlement (IIHS), in Bengaluru.
"Getting soil rejuvenation may take a little more time, but eventually, as the soil microbiomes bloom, they will see change, which will lead to a sustainable solution," she said.

The once derelict ground that Bordoloi took on lease is now a flourishing food forest today in Sonapur, about 30 km from Guwahati city in Assam, India. Photo credit: Sanskrita Bharadwaj/IPS

[H2]Looking for larger solutions[/H2]

Graphic credit: IPS

Graphic credit: IPS

Some would like to see more government support for regenerative farming.
Shah, currently the president of the Sindh Abadgar Board, an organisation of agriculturists in Sindh, said farmers are not being prepared for adapting to climate change and are not provided with solutions to counter those challenges.
Islamabad-based Dr M. Azeem Khan, former chairman of the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, agreed. The governments, he said, will need to modify existing farm equipment, build new ones, and make them available, as most small farmers cannot afford them. Further, the state will need to build the technical capacity of its extension workers, who can not only convince but also train farmers to give up their "old ways" and to let nature take its course.
"Seeing is believing; only then will farmers accept change," Khan said.
Khan said cheaper electricity, like solar, surety to procure produce, provision of timely and subsidised inputs, repair and maintenance of farm machinery, and an effective advocacy system focusing on how to move towards regenerative and environment-friendly agricultural practices would help.
"At the outset, the change may be costly," but it is possible, he said.

ghazi · Apr 5, 2024

ghazi · Apr 12, 2024

[H3]China's Role in Advancing Hybrid Rice Cultivation in Pakistan Highlighted[/H3]
Shafqat Ali | Gwadar Pro
Apr 9, 2024

LAHORE – The Chairman of the Pakistan Hitech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA), Shahzad Ali Malik, in a recent press briefing, highlighted the pivotal role of Chinese expertise in revolutionizing Pakistan's agriculture through hybrid seed technology.

This collaboration marks a significant stride towards self-sufficiency and the bolstering of Pakistan's export potential in key crops including cotton, wheat, edible oils, and pulses.

Malik pointed out that the adoption of hybrid rice technology from China has already showcased remarkable yield improvements, setting a precedent for its application across other agricultural sectors. The initiative aims at reducing Pakistan's heavy reliance on imports by enhancing local production capabilities.

For cotton, a critical export commodity, hybrid technology promises higher yields and quality, positioning Pakistan to reduce imports and explore export opportunities.

Similarly, the introduction of hybrid wheat and oilseed varieties like soybean and sunflower is expected to boost productivity, quality, and domestic availability, potentially transforming Pakistan into a net exporter of these commodities.

Malik also touched upon the issue of pulse shortages, emphasizing that hybrid varieties could significantly enhance local production, thereby decreasing the need for imports and enabling Pakistan to meet its domestic demand more effectively.

This strategic move towards hybrid varieties, in collaboration with China, aims to ensure food security, achieve economic stability, and foster export growth, underlining the crucial role of advanced agricultural technologies in Pakistan's development, he maintained.

ghazi · Apr 12, 2024

[H3]Experts laud China's role in advancing Hybrid Rice cultivation in Pakistan[/H3]

The Frontier Post

Experts-laud-Chinas-role-in-advancing-Hybrid-Rice-cultivation-in-Pakistan.jpg

ISLAMABAD: Experts lauded China's role in advancing Hybrid Rice cultivation in Pakistan.

The Chairman of the Pakistan Hitech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA), Shahzad Ali Malik, in a press briefing, highlighted the pivotal role of Chinese expertise in revolutionizing Pakistan's agriculture through hybrid seed technology.

This collaboration marks a significant stride towards self-sufficiency and the bolstering of Pakistan's export potential in key crops including cotton, wheat, edible oils, and pulses.

Malik pointed out that the adoption of hybrid rice technology from China has already showcased remarkable yield improvements, setting a precedent for its application across other agricultural sectors.

The initiative aims at reducing Pakistan's heavy reliance on imports by enhancing local production capabilities.

For cotton, a critical export commodity, hybrid technology promises higher yields and quality, positioning Pakistan to reduce imports and explore export opportunities.

Similarly, the introduction of hybrid wheat and oilseed varieties like soybean and sunflower is expected to boost productivity, quality, and domestic availability, potentially transforming Pakistan into a net exporter of these commodities.

Malik also touched upon the issue of pulse shortages, emphasizing that hybrid varieties could significantly enhance local production, thereby decreasing the need for imports and enabling Pakistan to meet its domestic demand more effectively.

This strategic move towards hybrid varieties, in collaboration with China, aims to ensure food security, achieve economic stability, and foster export growth, underlining the crucial role of advanced agricultural technologies in Pakistan's development, he maintained.(INP)

ghazi · Apr 26, 2024

[H2]'Modern warehousing can transform agriculture'[/H2]
The Newspaper's
April 26, 2024

LAHORE: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that Pakistan's current economic outlook can help the private and financial sectors transform agriculture in the country.

He was speaking at the concluding session of 'Agri Connections 2024' at the Expo Centre on Thursday.

"Robust growth in the agriculture sector, declining inflation rates, strong value of the rupee, strong remittance inflows, rising forex reserves, and a buoyant stock market are stable macroeconomic indicators underscoring the country's improved economic outlook," he said.

"We want to facilitate farm machinery service providers, and we need a major scale-up of modern agri warehousing under the EWRs financing that allows agri commodities to be traded nationally and internationally," said the minister.

Ahsan Rana, an Associate Professor at LUMS, said the country's overly regulated seed system is unsuitable for agriculture's growth.

"Cumbersome procedures have made our seed system depend on the government, making Pakistan stay in the lowest ranks in this domain according to the World Bank."

He said that compliance should be voluntary, enforcement should be limited to few aberrations, a two-tier system for seed companies should be developed, and the regulator should become a facilitator.

Maria Saleem, GM Agri-Business, Fatima Group, said that an additional $18 billion can be generated by enhancing wheat yields per acre by freeing up 5 million acres of cotton land.

She added that Pakistan could earn $1.6bn by planting canola/raya on 5 million acres saved from the wheat area, as Pakistan imports 4 million tonnes of edible oil worth $4bn annually.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2024

Ghazi52 · Sep 24, 2024

Govt launches project to form 33 farmer enterprise groups

Business Recorder
Sep 20, 2024

The Punjab government has launched a project worth Rs 6 billion to form 33 farmer enterprise groups consisting of 450 farmers to bring 17,500 acres of land cumulatively under onion and tomato crops, both for seasonal and off-season sowing, in a bid to enhance the production of these two important vegetables in the province.

The breakup of the land shows that 9,000 acres of land will be brought for seasonal cultivation of onion in Lodhran, Multan and Rajanpur districts while another 2500 acres of land will be brought under non-seasonal cultivation in Vehari, Khanewal and Rahim Yar Khan districts.

Likewise, 3500 acres of land will be brought for seasonal cultivation of tomato crops in Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan and Sheikhupura areas while another 2500 acres of land for non-seasonal sowing of tomatoes in Khushab, Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Jhelum and DG Khan.

The World Bank has funded the project and will provide support for onion and tomato seeds, nursery plants, machinery and agricultural equipment and cold storage.

Sources in the provincial agriculture department told Business Recorder that the plan has been chalked out on the directives of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif to ensure the provision of quality vegetables at affordable prices to consumers throughout the year.

Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani also chaired a meeting regarding this project recently in which he disclosed that the growers will be provided with all the help to achieve the targets of this mega project.

Kirmani while addressing the meeting said that modern farm machinery and solar systems will be provided to farmers on subsidy for increasing seasonal and non-seasonal cultivation of onion and potatoes.

In this context, a group cluster of farmers will be formed consisting of 12 to 15 farmers having less than 25 acres and they will work together to achieve the desired goals.

The provincial minister said that capacity building of farmers will be done through Farmer Field School, while technical training of Farmer Enterprise Group will be arranged through quality improvement, climate-smart agriculture practices, regenerative agriculture and post-harvest practices.

Punjab Agriculture Secretary said that under this project, the seasonal and non-seasonal production of onions will increase by 28,500 tons, while the seasonal and non-seasonal production of tomatoes will increase by 39,000 tons, he added.

Ghazi52 · Sep 24, 2024

Pakistan a potential supplier in global kiwifruit market: Experts

By Wang Xiaotong | China Economic Net
Sep 23, 2024

BEIJING, - From the newly concluded International Training Workshop on Kiwifruit Production in Sichuan, agricultural experts from Pakistan saw their country's potential to become an important player in the world's kiwifruit market, through collaborating with China. Meanwhile an MoU was reached between Sichuan Provincial Academy of Natural Resource Sciences and the University of Swabi, marking a promising beginning of Sino-Pak kiwifruit cooperation in a more in-depth form.

Agricultural experts from Pakistan, Egypt, Nepal, Mongolia, etc. gather in Sichuan to learn Chinese expertise in kiwifruit production. [Photo provided by SPANRC]

“Pakistan's kiwi industry has immense potential for growth and development. With its favorable climate, rich soil and abundant water resources, Pakistan can become a significant player in the global kiwifruit market,” Dr. Ruidar Ali Shah from the University of Swabi told CEN. Further, “Pakistan's strategic location allows for easy access to markets in the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe, providing a competitive edge. I am optimistic about the future of Pakistan's kiwi industry and its potential to contribute significantly to the country's economy,” he added.

“Pakistan's climate, especially in its northern and hilly regions, is suitable for growing kiwifruit, which requires moderate temperatures and adequate rainfall. The growing demand for kiwifruit in both local and international markets, coupled with Pakistan's large agricultural workforce, presents a significant opportunity for the country to develop a profitable kiwifruit industry,”

[🇵🇰] Pakistan Agriculture Updates

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Pak-China Alliance Drives Upgrading of the Agricultural Material Industry​

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USDA trains over seventy thousand farmers, stakeholders​

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Recognising agriculture’s potential​

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Sesame cultivation grew by 187%​

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Over 8.3m cotton bales reach ginneries across Pakistan, 72pc increase recorded​

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Pakistan and Chinese Experts forge agricultural alliance​

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Govt launches project to form 33 farmer enterprise groups​

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Pak-China Alliance Drives Upgrading of the Agricultural Material Industry

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Agricultural equipment under Green Pakistan Initiative reaches Pakistan

Govt launches project to form 33 farmer enterprise groups

Pakistan a potential supplier in global kiwifruit market: Experts