Pakistan advised to strengthen marketing of agri products exports

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan needs to strengthen commercial promotion and marketing for its agricultural products to capture international markets including China, a senior Chinese diplomat remarked in Islamabad.

Addressing a webinar organized by the Vehari Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Agriculture Commissioner at Chinese Embassy, Gu Wenliabg, explained that agriculture was one of the key cooperation industries area under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). 

Both the Chinese and Pakistani governments are committed to strengthening agricultural industry cooperation and encouraging more Chinese enterprises to invest in Pakistan by setting up joint ventures with potential local partners. 

The agricultural industry cooperation will not only increase Pakistan’s yields of crops and maintain its food security but also improve its agricultural products exports to China and other countries and regions. 

The Chinese expert reckoned that there was great potential for China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation in four areas. Starting with seed, the average yield of wheat was only three tons per hectare in Pakistan, which can be improved substantially by taking the high-yield, anti-drought variety with resistance to insects and pests. 

As for rice cultivation, China’s hybrid rice technology is recommended. For sugar cane and potato, the virus free tissue culture sapling could be a good choice. 

Secondly the use of modern technology was suggested as China has many technologies suitable for crops in Pakistan, including compound planting, smart agriculture, water-saving irrigation and greenhouse. 

Recently, two Pakistani students from China’s Sichuan Agricultural University used successfully the maize-soybean strip intercropping technology in Punjab, which has achieved satisfactory results. The greenhouse planting can also promote the development of vegetables, edible fungus and flowers in Pakistan. 

Thirdly he discussed about agricultural machinery and materials since China’s fertilizer and pesticide industries were being developed. Now green pesticides and organic fertilizers are being promoted to reduce pollution from agricultural non-point source. 

In terms of agricultural machinery, with the 5G and other technologies, smart agricultural machines and implements have been playing an important role in crops’ sowing, harvesting and plant protection in China. 

Fourthly he talked about agricultural product processing as Pakistan produces a great deal of high-quality fruits and vegetables every year. Due to their short storage/shelves period, a lot of them go rotten and cause a great waste. To solve this problem, they could either be kept by cold chain storage or processed into high value-added products by food processing technology.