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China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) | Agriculture


By Staff Reporter | China Economic Net Jun 17, 2022



KUNMING, June 17 (China Economic Net) – China’s Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS) and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) (designated by the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote agricultural cooperation between China and Pakistan at an online signing ceremony held in Kunming and Beijing today (June 17th).
Chinese, Pak institutions signed MoU to further boost agriculture co-op

Online signing ceremony between Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (designated by Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing) on June 17th [Photo provided to CEN]
While addressing the ceremony, Dr Wang Jihua, president of YAAS, noted that years of collaboration between YAAS and PARC have yielded fruitful results in areas such as wheat, potato, sugarcane, plant protection and banana.
Dr Wang further emphasised, “the effective information sharing in desert locust early warning and prevention and the collaborative research on wheat disease and breeding have become good examples of China-Pakistan sci-tech cooperation.”
Highlighting the cooperation results between the two sides, Moin ul Haque, Pakistani Ambassador to China, said that he was more than “happy” to see Chinese experience and expertise have contributed to increased crop yield, plant protection and pest control in Pakistan. “We are very grateful to China for helping us last year with [the] prevention of locusts and [the] Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas of China has also given us special drones to help us in plant protection and pest control,” said Haque.
The ambassador envisioned that future cooperation between the two institutions will further enhance the capacities of Pakistani scientists, researchers and institutions, and help boost crop yields by promoting plant protection and pest control.
As part of the MoU, both sides will work to build a joint agricultural research centre (lab) and strengthen cooperation in cross-border agricultural pest research, talent cultivation and scientific and technological training.
It is to be noted that the agreement is an extension of a 2014 cooperation project between YAAS and PARC.
 

China-Pakistan to cooperate on de-desertification, biodiversity conservation and pest control​


By Zafar Hussain | Gwadar Pro Jun 23, 2022



BEIJING, Jun 23 (Gwadar Pro)-The cooperation between China and Pakistan in the agriculture sector, particularly in the fields of de-desertification, biodiversity conservation and pest control can help modernize this sector, said Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque.
Ambassador Moin ul Haque received Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, Secretary-General of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) at the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing and discussed different projects.
The Ambassador underlined the increasing importance attached by the Government of Pakistan to environmental protection and combatting climate change, highlighting various initiatives taken by Pakistan in these areas. Noting the growing cooperation between China and Pakistan in the agriculture sector, he sought CBCGDF’s support and solicited concrete project proposals.
Dr. Zhou briefed the Ambassador on the functioning of CBCGDF and invited him to visit the sites of various projects undertaken by the organization. Acknowledging Pakistan’s strong credentials in agriculture and the need for climate action, he listed areas of potential collaboration.
CBCGDF is a leading environmental NGO in China, having around 30 years of experience in biodiversity conservation and institutional linkages within China and with various multilateral organizations.
 

By Fatima Javed | Gwadar Pro Jun 24, 2022



ISLAMABAD, June 24 (Gwadar Pro) – According to experts, potential suitable sites and land for tea cultivation are located alongside China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Therefore, China has a big role to play in promoting tea on a commercial scale through joint ventures and technical and financial support.
China from the beginning has played a crucial role in tea promotion in Pakistan. With the technical and financial assistance of China, at Shinkiari in Mansehra, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) established a tea estate of over 50 acres along with green and black tea processing units, but it is yet to be adopted by the private sector on a sustainable basis.
Tea plantation and processing have already proved successful in northern Pakistan. However, its commercialization under the market mechanism needs decision-makers’ attention.
The federal government has engaged private sector companies for experimentation and commercialization of tea. However, the pace and quantum of commercialization have been very slow.
According to the online data platform Observatory of Economic Complexity, Pakistan imported $646 million worth of tea in the fiscal year 2019-20, largely from Kenya.
This has listed Pakistan as the largest importer of the commodity in the world. In the 10 months of this fiscal year, tea imports have jumped by 9% to $532.4 million, compared with $580.5 million in the entire FY 2020-2021.
In view of the growing population and increasing consumption of tea in Pakistan, the government is working out a plan to commercialize tea cultivation for curtailing the import bill to this effect.
Talking to media, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Thursday that a huge chunk of foreign exchange is spent every year on importing tea in Pakistan. If local tea production is promoted, the country's import bill could be significantly reduced.
The minister visited National Tea & High Value Crops Research Institute (NTHRI) at Shinkiari, Abbottabad and had a briefing on tea cultivation, its processing and commercialization in Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan could not attract foreign direct investment in the tea industry despite huge domestic demand. Neither it is advanced in research & development on tea production.
Earlier in his tweet the planning minister mentioned that Pakistan is the largest importer of tea in the world, racking up an import bill of whopping $589.8 million in 2020 alone.
Tea has emerged as a major import commodity and is draining huge foreign exchange every year. Local tea production is fast becoming a matter of urgency as domestic consumption of tea will increase by another 10% in the next five years.
 
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Pak-China can promote tea on commercial scale through joint ventures: Experts​

By Fatima Javed
Jun 24, 2022

ISLAMABAD, June 24 (Gwadar Pro) – According to experts, potential suitable sites and land for tea cultivation are located alongside China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Therefore, China has a big role to play in promoting tea on a commercial scale through joint ventures and technical and financial support.

China from the beginning has played a crucial role in tea promotion in Pakistan. With the technical and financial assistance of China, at Shinkiari in Mansehra, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) established a tea estate of over 50 acres along with green and black tea processing units, but it is yet to be adopted by the private sector on a sustainable basis.
Tea plantation and processing have already proved successful in northern Pakistan. However, its commercialization under the market mechanism needs decision-makers’ attention.

The federal government has engaged private sector companies for experimentation and commercialization of tea. However, the pace and quantum of commercialization have been very slow.

According to the online data platform Observatory of Economic Complexity, Pakistan imported $646 million worth of tea in the fiscal year 2019-20, largely from Kenya.

This has listed Pakistan as the largest importer of the commodity in the world. In the 10 months of this fiscal year, tea imports have jumped by 9% to $532.4 million, compared with $580.5 million in the entire FY 2020-2021.

In view of the growing population and increasing consumption of tea in Pakistan, the government is working out a plan to commercialize tea cultivation for curtailing the import bill to this effect.

Talking to media, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Thursday that a huge chunk of foreign exchange is spent every year on importing tea in Pakistan. If local tea production is promoted, the country's import bill could be significantly reduced.

The minister visited National Tea & High Value Crops Research Institute (NTHRI) at Shinkiari, Abbottabad and had a briefing on tea cultivation, its processing and commercialization in Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan could not attract foreign direct investment in the tea industry despite huge domestic demand. Neither it is advanced in research & development on tea production.

Earlier in his tweet the planning minister mentioned that Pakistan is the largest importer of tea in the world, racking up an import bill of whopping $589.8 million in 2020 alone.

Tea has emerged as a major import commodity and is draining huge foreign exchange every year. Local tea production is fast becoming a matter of urgency as domestic consumption of tea will increase by another 10% in the next five years.
 

HanGeng, CMEC look to invest in KP’s agri, livestock sectors: Official​


By Khalid Aziz | Gwadar Pro Jun 27, 2022



ISLAMABAD, Jun. 27(Gwadar Pro) - Chinese firms HanGeng Agricultural Group and China Machinery Engineering Corp(CMEC) are exploring the agriculture and livestock sectors of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province for possible investment.
This was stated by KP Board of Investment and Trade (KP-BOIT) CEO Hassan Daud while talking to Gwadar Pro.
HanGeng Group is developing an agricultural industrial park in Gwadar Free Trade Zone to industrialise livestock and agriculture sectors in Pakistan. The park will have facilities for animal husbandry, a slaughter house and processing and packaging units for exporting livestock and agricultural goods from Pakistan.
Dr. Hassan said that Hangeng Group’s GM Andy Liao met him on June 23 and discussed possibilities of establishing agricultural and livestock linkages between KP and Gwadar. The firm intends to procure animals from KP for export purposes after taking care of them at their husbandry in Gwadar, Dr. Hassan said. The firm is interested in purchasing animals and poultry of around 200 different breeds, the KP-BOIT CEO said.
He also informed that a senior CMEC official Huang Pei met him in Islamabad on Sunday and discussed possibilities of extending the red chilli contract farming concept to KP. The firm is already growing red chillies in Sindh and Punjab provinces.
Other Chinese enterprises are also interested in investing in KP and their officials are visiting the province to identify potential areas for investment, Dr. Hassan said. He added that Chinese investors are aggressively looking around for investment opportunities after travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 have been lifted. They are taking a keen interest in KP because of its unique location including proximity to China, improved infrastructure and development of special economic zones, especially Rashakai SEZ of CPEC, he said. The Chinese enterprises are expected to bring huge employment opportunities in the agriculture and livestock sectors of KP, Dr. Hassan said.
 
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Pakistan’s dried fruits have a huge market in China​

By Mariam Raheem

SHANGHAI, May 17 (Gwadar Pro) - To tap the numerous potential of Pakistan’s dried fruits export, the Consulate General of Pakistan in Shanghai in collaboration with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, held a webinar today on the export of dried fruits and nuts from Pakistan to China.

On the occasion, Mr. Hussain Haider, Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai, highlighted that exports of nuts and dried fruits from Pakistan to China reached $65 million in 2021, a surge from $8 million in 2020, which shows great potential for Pakistan’s dried fruits export to China. “Pakistan has a strong agricultural foundation and quality dried fruits. Under the second phase of China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, Pakistan exports dried fruits to China with zero tariffs, which is of great benefit to Pakistan.”

The CG further mentioned that “Chinese snack food is a rapidly expanding market and snacks with high nutrition are becoming more popular. Preference for small packages is growing and online purchase is becoming the prevailing mode of purchase. By catering to the needs of the Chinese market, Pakistani dried fruits companies can seize business opportunities.”

More than 20 related companies from China and Pakistan attended the webinar. Pakistani enterprises propose to simplify road transport procedures, increase transport channels and reduce transportation costs.

The ongoing epidemic in Shanghai has made people pay more and more attention to food and realize the importance of nutritious food that can improve immunity and can be preserved for a long time. Chinese trade, logistics, and e-commerce enterprises present believe that Pakistan’s export of dried fruits to China has a bright future, and they are willing to display quality Pakistani dried fruit products through exhibitions and other channels to expand its popularity in China.

Pakistan exported oilseeds, nuts, and kernels worth $185.2 million during the first ten months (July-April) of the current fiscal year against the exports of $84.6 million during the same period of the last fiscal year, showing an increase of 118.93 percent, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). In terms of quantity, the exports of oilseeds, nuts, and kernels also increased by 76.06 percent, going up from 77,415 MT to 136,294 MT, according to the data.

China has become Pakistan’s largest trading partner for years. In the first four months of 2022, China imported a total of 2.819 million tons of dried and fresh melons and nuts, an increase of 12.9 percent over the same period last year.
 

Sino techs to increase Pak cherry presence in China​


By Wang Xiaotong | China Economic Net Jun 27, 2022



BEIJING, June 27 (China Economic Net) - It's cherry season in China now and there is nothing better than champing on some sweet tasting cherries for summer.

On the online shopping platforms, cherries imported from overseas have been well received by Chinese consumers, of which mostly are from Chile. The price of Chile cherries (32+mm) on China’s online shopping websites is equivalent to about $55 per kilogram, revealing enormous profit potential. Pakistani cherries, with beautiful appearance and high sweetness, can’t miss the chance to enter China, one of the largest consumer markets in the world.

pakcherries.jpg


Beautiful Pakistani cherries. Now in China dark sweet cherries are better received by consumers. [Photo/CEN]

“Pakistani cherry looks quite good and the color turns dark when it matures. At present, cherries of dark color are especially loved by Chinese customers,” Wang Zhihua, General Manager, Shaanxi Jinguo Cherry Industrial Development Co., Ltd. told CEN.

More importantly, “there is a time difference of 10 days to half a month between most Chinese cherries and foreign cherries’ maturity. Therefore if Pakistani cherries can enter the Chinese market, there’re profitable opportunities,” Li Wei, Business Representative, Huazhilong International Trade Co., Ltd. said. In addition, as he sees it, the big temperature difference between day and night as well as the adequate sunlight in Pakistan confers more competitiveness on Pakistani cherry’s taste.

So far the cherry planting area in Pakistan has exceeded 2,500 hectares, and Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan are the two main cherry-producing places. It is learned that GB region produces 4,000 metric tons of cherry per season, and local consumption is limited. If GB’s cherries can enter China, the export value can be huge.

“When the pandemic ends, Pakistani cherry should have the chance of being exported to China,” Li Wei said.

Before being allowed to export, many Chinese enterprises are eager to help Pakistani farmers with leading technologies to let their cherries better prepared for entering China.

In China, virus-free cherry seedlings, having the advantages of healthy root system, robust growth and high survival rate in field planting, are being used to realize high and stable yield. “We take the stem tip of a cherry bud. When its diameter grows to 0.02mm, we extract it from a special nutrient solution, and let it expand to 10 times and 100 times and become a virus-free cherry seedling, with which the main cherry tree diseases can be prevented,” Wang Zhihua said.

Chinese agricultural experts also shared their experience of the pesticide application. “During early flowering, pesticides must not be used. Once pesticides are applied, bees will fly away as soon as they smell them, which will greatly affect pollination,” Lv Pinghui, Professor, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University said. “In the evening, poplar and willow branches sprayed with 50% malathion EC and 50% phoxim EC 1000-1500 times can be erected in the orchard clearing, which can trap and kill scarab beetles. Appropriate intercropping of spinach and rape in cherry orchard in spring can also help trap pests and then kill them with pesticides,” he added.

Due to the limitations of fresh keeping and logistics technology, which need to be updated simultaneously, cherries in GB valley are hard to reach Karachi, let alone China thousands of miles away.

“It can only survive for 6 to 7 days. You can keep it safe at a maximum of one week. We used our old traditional ways to transport these cherries to the markets. However, it caused many loses,” Muhammad Ali Akbar, Pakistani fruit businessman told CEN.

Chinese companies are making efforts to deepen cooperation with Pakistan in cherry cultivation and transportation. With advanced Chinese technology, they hope Pakistan’s high quality cherries could arrive China soon.

“At present, with our orchard management technology, we are able to make Pakistani cherries’ variety, appearance and quality better. We will also send technicians of inorganic fertilizer bagging, picking, disinfection and transportation to Pakistan. Moreover, we have our own logistics team. Next year, in Pakistan, we will put great emphasis on developing the cold chain technology of agricultural products,” Li Wei said.
 

CMEC improving Pakistan’s traditional agriculture outlook​


By Tahir Ali | Gwadar Pro Jul 5, 2022



ISLAMABAD, July 5 (Gwadar Pro)- There is a great potential in expanding the value chain of agricultural products in Pakistan. If the country brings average crop yield to par with that of the world, Pakistani farmers can generate additional revenue. In this regard, China Machinery Engineering Corp (CMEC) is playing a vital role in helping Pakistan change its traditional agricultural outlook and embrace mechanization and agricultural technologies for crop yield improvement.
Dai Bao, Leader of the Agriculture Project of CMEC in Pakistan, held a meeting with senior PPP leader and ex-Senator Sehar Kamran on Monday and discussed innovative farming and agriculture cooperation between China and Pakistan.
“We discussed corporate farming, mechanization of agriculture, agriculture technology innovation, potential fields between China and Pakistan, etc.”, Mr. Dai told Gwadar Pro.
Both leaders agreed that there was a great potential for corporate farming in chili, cotton, oil seeds, and animal fodder.
In fact, CMEC has succeeded in establishing six model farms under the Pakistan-China Red Chilli Contract Farming Project in Punjab and northern Sindh. With nearly two years of operation, the farms are expected to produce an estimated 700 tons of dried chilli. Besides, the chilli project has brought about 1000 jobs and training opportunities for 200 local technicians.

 

Sino techs expected to raise Pakistan tomato production​


By Staff Reporter | China Economic Net Jul 12, 2022



XIANYANG, July. 12 (China Economic Net)- "Compared with wheat, cotton, rapeseed or beans, tomatoes require more fertilizers. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potash fertilizer are all essential. Besides, zinc, boron and other micronutrients can make it grow better. This means that farmers have to spend more to grow it. However, in recent years, the price of tomatoes in Pakistan has fluctuated very frequently, which is beyond our control. If the price fluctuates too much, the low price will cause farmers to suffer great losses, which greatly affects their enthusiasm, and in turn leads to a subsequent drop in production. Generally speaking, in Punjab, the largest tomato-producing region, April to May marks the start of the tomato high season. But this year, I’m not sure about that," noted Dr Syed Ahmad, Principal Scientist of Vegetable Research Institute, Faisalabad in an exclusive interview with China Economic Net.
Sino techs expected to raise Pakistan tomato production

Tomatoes growing in greenhouses in Pakistan [Photo provided to CEN]

Dr Nadar K, Senior Scientific Officer at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), indicated that in Pakistan, tomatoes have a total annual production of around 529,600 tonnes and an average yield of 9.2 tonnes per hectare. The downward trend in the prices of tomatoes, which are an indispensable part of most of dishes in the country, has been seen in Sindh province since early January. Muzzammil Aslam, Spokesperson to Finance Minister, also noted on January that the price of tomato has fallen to Rs35 at retail in Karachi, the biggest consumer center of the country.

So, what caused it? Reasons for the inequalities are complex. “Although it is the farmers’ decision on what and how much to plant, but at the government decision-making level, we lack an institution, or a system, to provide farmers with policy guidance on a macro level, so as to avoid blindly planting or abandoning a certain crop, which lead to yield fluctuation,” Dr Ahmad emphasized. If farmers don’t get good returns after a year of hard work, they would be disappointed and cut back on planting, and Pakistan has to import a lot of tomatoes, which are a must in most of the country's daily dishes.
Sino techs expected to raise Pakistan tomato production

A local farmer tending tomatoes in a greenhouse [Photo provided to CEN]

In addition, the lack of advanced agricultural technology is also a key factor affecting the tomato production in Pakistan. “Growing tomatoes on ordinary land is affordable for most farmers. But if you use hydroponics or soilless cultivation, it will add a lot of cost,” Dr Ahmad told CEN. If a reasonably priced hydroponics or soilless culture technology can be introduced into Pakistan to guarantee the input-output ratio of farmers, he believes that this will be an excellent cooperation opportunity.

“At present, there are 13 varieties of tomatoes planted in our industrial park, of which TOMIMARU and DRC564 have the highest yields, with the yield per square meter reaching 40 kg and 60 kg respectively. In addition, they have beautiful fruit shape, long storage life, and strong resistance to diseases and insect pests,” Zhang Lin, the head of Shaanxi Yangling Aoda Modern Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., mentioned while interviewing CEN, “In order to promote the development of the park to a higher level, we will actively consider launching international cooperation plans such as talent export, technical cooperation and exchanges with other countries especially countries along the Belt and Road.”
Sino techs expected to raise Pakistan tomato production

Sino techs expected to raise Pakistan tomato production

The greenhouse of Shaanxi Yangling Aoda Modern Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. [Photo provided to CEN]

According to Zhang, Pakistan is facing problems such as lagging agricultural modernization, low level of mechanization, and confusing use of fertilizers and pesticides, all of which China has also encountered before. Promotion of soilless cultivation, improvement of shed facilities, selection of excellent varieties and strengthening of water and fertilizer integration, each link of facility agriculture is closely related to the yield and quality.

“Nowadays, our greenhouses are equipped with facilities such as sunshades, heat preservation curtains, heating pipes, high-pressure sprays, circulating fans, temperature and humidity sensors, and irrigation systems to jointly regulate the planting environment in the park,” Zhang analyzed that Yangling is located in the arid and semi-arid areas of northwestern China, which also face water shortages like Pakistan. In response to this problem, the park adopts a combination of groundwater and tap water irrigation, collecting groundwater and also designing a 3,000-cubic-meter reservoir to collect rainwater and purify it as an irrigation reserve.
Sino techs expected to raise Pakistan tomato production

Tomatoes growing in a greenhouse with water and fertilizer integration technology [Photo provided to CEN]

As for another major factor limiting tomato production in Pakistan, pests and diseases, Dr Ahmad also pointed out that late blight and tomato virus disease can cause severe reduction in production, while main pests such as cotton bollworm and leaf miner can cause great harm to leaves, flowers and fruits in the growing period. In this regard, Zhang introduced a combination of physical and chemical control measures, focusing on prevention. At the same time, in order to avoid affecting soil quality, the use of various chemical fertilizers and pesticides should be minimized, and key prevention should be carried out in the early stage of pests and diseases based on previous planting experience and climatic conditions. In case of pests and diseases the combination of drug spraying and fumigation is relatively efficient.

“When it comes to cooperation, to my point of view, tomato value-added products must be our top priority. If Chinese and Pakistani investors can cooperate in the field of value-added products, in our major tomato-producing areas such as Punjab, tomatoes will be sold in large quantities during the peak period, which will inevitably lead to a drop in prices. At this time, if tomatoes can be purchased at a reasonable price and processed into by-products, farmers will not suffer losses,” Dr Ahmad suggested, “In addition, in terms of germplasm resources and technology introduction, it is also necessary for us to cooperate to bring all-round industrial upgrading to Pakistan's tomato industry.”
 
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Super seeds help boost Pakistan’s rice exports​


Press Room

July 27, 2022




LAHORE:
Pakistan’s rice exports grew 23% in fiscal year 2021-22 and reached $2.511 billion compared with $2.041 billion in fiscal year 2020-21.

As per Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Pakistan exported 4.877 million tonnes of rice in FY22 against 3.684 million tonnes in FY21, recording a growth of 32.35%.
Over the past couple of years, areas under rice cultivation have been on the rise.

According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan (2021-22), the crop was sown on 3,537 thousand hectares, showing an increase of 6.1% against 3,335 thousand hectares last year.

The record high output of rice stood at 9.323 million tonnes during 2021-22, higher by 10.7% than previous year’s production of 8.420 million tonnes.

In addition to the increase in acreage, the increase in rice production is another important factor contributing to the surge in Pakistan’s rice exports.

The renewal of good varieties and the use of advanced technology are essential factors for achieving high yields. Hybrid rice from China has replaced some backward local varieties.

Longping South Asia Seed R&D Centre has bred high-yield varieties with strong stress resistance in Pakistan.

Pakistan Hi-Tech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA) Chairman Shahzad Ali Malik maintained that the regular use of hi-tech hybrid seeds in agriculture can contribute a lot to achieving an ambitious $35 billion export target with the slogan of “Grow More, Export More”.

R&D Centre Chief Scientist Long Chunjiu said in a recent interview that Pakistan has a great potential for rice export, in which hybrid rice seeds can play a critical role.
Pakistan’s rice export to China in the first six months of this year was worth around $345 million, compared with $258 million in the same period of last year, according to the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
 
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Pak-China olive cooperation possesses immense potential​

China Economic Net
July 24, 2022

FUZHOU, July 25 (China Economic Net)- “As one of the main olive producing areas in China, the processing industrial chain in Fujian Province is still far from perfect. The supply of high-quality olives is in short supply; besides, the by-product market also contains unlimited potential. Namely, the market space is huge.

In the future, if we can introduce excellent olive varieties from countries along the Belt and Road, including Pakistan, and carry out planting and processing technology exchanges with them, undoubtedly it will be a win-win situation,” noted Chen Rui, General Manager of Fujian Baihejiang Industrial Development Co., Ltd., in an exclusive interview with China Economic Net.

Pak-China olive cooperation possesses immense potential


Olives in Fujian Baihejiang orchard [Photo provided to CEN]

Edible olives are rich in nutrients, providing protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, iron and other minerals. Its content of vitamin C is 10 times that of apples and 5 times that of pears and peaches. Pakistan, which has a large area of land suitable for growing olive trees, can produces about 1,500 tons of olive oil and 830 tons of table olives per year, all of which are consumed domestically. Now, Pakistan is the only South Asian country to be included in the International Olive Council. Farhan Pasha, the science officer in charge of the olive program at the Barani Agricultural Research Institute, told CEN that the main areas in Pakistan fit for olive cultivation are Balochistan, KPK and Punjab, etc. Pakistan has 10 million acres of land suitable for olive cultivation, which is almost twice as much as Spain, the world's largest olive oil producer.

Nevertheless, the cultivation and processing of edible olives in Pakistan is facing a series of challenges, which also brings opportunities for agricultural cooperation between China and Pakistan in this field.

According to Farhan Pasha, Pakistani olive growers often need to use costly imported fertilizers or pesticides when faced with pests and diseases, but this is beyond the purchasing power of most ordinary farmers. Therefore, if China provides effective measures to increase production or control pests and diseases, this will be the most ideal result. Chen put forward a specific plan for this, “Biopesticides are our best choice due to ordinary pesticides may cause soil hardening or pesticide residues. Even the most common biological materials such as well-proportioned ginger and pepper spray can have a very good sterilizing and insecticidal effect. In terms of pest control, we use breeding beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, to kill pests.”


Pak-China olive cooperation possesses immense potential

A Pakistani farmer picking olives [Photo provided to CEN]

As for fertilizers, Chen emphasized that in most cases, his olive orchard chooses organic bio-fertilizers, such as chicken and sheep manure, which are of great help in increasing production.

At present, there are two main varieties of edible olives, in his orchard, with a total planting area of about 2,500 mu (about 166.67 hectares). In the past five years, the annual output has been about 500,000 kilograms, and the annual output value can reach 50 million yuan. Among them, Meixiang No. 2 has outstanding yield, with each tree can bear 250-400 kilograms during the annual picking season in August.

“Under the framework of CPEC, we have cooperated closely with China in many fields, so in this respect they can provide high-level support in terms of agricultural technology. At present, in our olive growing area, when the orchard is too humid due to climate and other reasons, pests always arise freely. So, if we can collaborate, we need to transform advanced technology learned from high-level agricultural jargon into easy-to-understand knowledge that can be conveyed to our farmers,” mentioned Dr. Ramzan Ansari, who is in charge of olive research at the Barani Agricultural Research Institute.

Pak-China olive cooperation possesses immense potential


Olive by-products of Fujian Baihejiang Industrial Development Co., Ltd. [Photo provided to CEN]

Experts believe, as agriculture is one of the key sectors in Pakistan’s economy, both countries should deepen and expand cooperation in the agriculture sector under CPEC. Pakistan can adopt the latest Chinese technology for the cultivation of olive plants.

Against the backdrop of successful cultivation of cash crops such as chili peppers, a joint venture between China and Pakistan for olive cultivation and processing is also a viable solution. Inam ul Haq, who works as a horticulturist at the Barani Agricultural Research Institute in Chakwal, has included Chinese investment in his plans. “In the future we plan various joint ventures with Chinese counterparts as we can take advantage of their expertise, since the world understands their knowledge and praises them." Dr. Ramzan Ansari suggested that some areas with high agricultural potential, including the Potohar region, could become exclusive agricultural zones under CPEC.

In addition, professionals from both China and Pakistan have high expectations for the olive by-product processing industry. “Taking Fujian as an example, main olive by-products include juice, syrup, honey, preserved fruit, tea, vinegar, beverage. Among them, olive tea is made from olives and black tea with ingredients such as ginger and olive salt, which is very popular with the local people. In addition, the olives can increase the aroma of the tea, making the aroma more lingering,” Chen told CEN.

Pak-China olive cooperation possesses immense potential


Various olive by-products from Pakistan [Photo provided to CEN]

“The processed products of olives have very high added value, such as pickled olives, olive tea, olive sugar, and the like. The residue left after processing olives can also be used for livestock feed. We can cooperate with Chinese research institutes or enterprises, and I hope our government can play an active role in policy guidance and industry support.

By now, we have introduced pickled olives to some Chinese dealers, who are very interested in it and expressed that they will seize the opportunity to promote cooperation between the two parties,” Syed Yousaf Ali, an owner of olive orchard at Sehgal farmhouse Kallar Kahar, echoed confidently.
 
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BEIJING, Aug 02 (APP): “Although Pakistani mangoes have a relatively small presence in China, last year our exports of mangoes to China were increased more than 10 times to reach 37 tons and we are confident that this growth momentum will continue,” Hussain Haider, Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai said on Tuesday.

Addressing the 2022 Pakistan Mango Festival and Pakistan Promotion Conference, the Consul General maintained that Pakistan attaches high importance to its trade and investment relations with China, Pakistan’s largest trading partner, China Economic Net (CEN) reported.

In 2021, our bilateral trade increased 58% to reach $28 billion. In the first 6 months of 2022, bilateral trade has increased more than 15%. We believe that this year, the bilateral trade will surpass $30 billion. Still, an immense potential exists to further increase bilateral trade. Cooperation in the food sector can contribute to realizing this potential, the CG explained.

Zhao Haofang, Secretary-General of China-Europe Association for Technical and Economic Cooperation, introduced that the event airlifted 150 kilograms of mangoes from Pakistan and invited 60 companies which have directly operated fruit stores in Shanghai. “We hope that through today’s activity, we can expand the recognition of Pakistani mango in the Shanghai fruit industry and expand the market for Pakistani mangoes in China”.

Gao Xu, Chairman of Rui Feng Culture Media (Shanghai) Co., Ltd said that, the annual mango output in Pakistan is 1.8 million tons, which has a great potential for exports. We hope to take mangoes as an opportunity to build a bridge of China-Pakistan exchanges and let more people know Pakistan’s business opportunities, including tourism and culture.

On the occasion, in addition to mango products, sporting goods, leather goods, textile garments and gemstones were also on display.
 
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Bamboo is unique Chinese solution to climate change, Pakistani official

China Economic Net,
Aug 3, 2022

ISLAMABAD ? Bamboo is an efficient carbon sink that China is promoting as a unique solution to climate change. A senior official of Pakistan's Ministry of Climate Change has said that it is easier to adopt and implement Chinese strategies in Pakistan than to follow Western and European solutions.

Speaking to China Economic Net, he said that China has successfully managed its forests and taken great steps in bamboo production. China is now competing with the West. This is one area under climate change where we can get Chinese assistance.

In the past, there has been no major cooperation between Pakistan and China in the field of climate change. But now there is a need and great potential for collaboration between the two countries in this sector.

China has made significant progress in the development and scientific cultivation of bamboo. Currently, China ranks first worldwide in bamboo research because of its numerous research units and strong technical force.

In recent years, China has made significant progress in bamboo cultivation and development, carbon sequestration and storage, and environmental functions.

Therefore, the development and acquisition of bamboo industry in Pakistan from China's experience can be a beneficial step towards afforestation and climate change. This concept has already been introduced in Pakistan.

Bamboo is cultivated in many parts of Pakistan and about 15 species of bamboo are found in the country. Bamboo has also been used across the country to construct post-disaster shelters after earthquakes and floods.
 
Tea Cooperation..
Exchanges with China


Zhangzhou College of Science and Technology, the only foreign aid training base in China that focuses on tea, has trained over a dozen Pakistani participants over the years.

“Pakistan used to have very limited tea varieties. It is through such training that Pakistani participants brought back the technology to grow and process Oolong Tea and red and white tea,” revealed Cai Shiwen, Director of International Department of the college.

China is among the top 10 tea exporters to Pakistan. In 2021, it exported $5.32 million worth of tea to Pakistan and provides 42% of the imported green tea. Meanwhile, it is surprising to find that Pakistan is also exporting tea to China.

According to the General Administration of Customs of China, Pakistan exported over 5,000 kg of red tea and other fermented tea in the first four months of 2022. Not a large amount, but it is still inspiring.

Guangzhou Quality Import and Export General Manager Furqan Mawani told CEN that his company imports over a hundred tons of green and red tea from Pakistan.

Through e-commerce platforms, the products reach wholesalers and end-consumers all over the country.

“Pakistani teas are known for their strong flavourful taste and rich aromas. But another reason why Pakistani tea products have a place in the Chinese market is because of the relationship and bond the two countries share,” explained Mawani.

“People of China and Pakistan are willing to share and get to know about each other’s cultures. As tea is an integral part of Pakistan and China culture, it is inevitable that they are attracted to Pakistani tea.”

As the concepts of milk tea and health preservation are gaining traction among the young population in China, he expects more export of green and red tea from Pakistan.

“The commercial value of Pakistan’s tea, once fully tapped, can be beyond imagination,” Mawani said.

THE ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON THE CHINA ECONOMIC NET
 
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