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Pakistan Agriculture Developments

Pakistan Agriculture Developments.


Agriculture plays an important role in generating economic growth, and increased agricultural productivity tends to increase rural employment and help alleviate poverty. A collection of papers on agricultural issues in Pakistan, this book assesses the past performance of Pakistan ' s agriculture sector, analyzes the major issues and constraints facing the sector in recent years, and proposes a strategy for accelerating and sustaining growth in the coming decades.” .

Increased agricultural productivity leads to overpopulation https://ia802907.us.archive.org/4/i...nsion of the demographic transition model.pdf

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Basmati rice exports surge 45pc in March​

DAWN
Apr 23, 2023

Basmati exports staged a strong rebound surging by 45 per cent to 64,274 tonnes in March from 44,137 tonnes in February despite 25pc damage to the last crop due to floods and heavy rains.

In dollar terms, rice exports jumped by 39pc to $69,475 in March from $49,875 in February.

Non-basmati export, however, registered a decline of 35.5pc to 328,344 tonnes in March against 509,271 tonnes in February. The fall in exports in dollar terms was around 21.3pc.

Total rice exports during March stood at 382,618 tonnes valuing $243,632, while Pakistan exported a total 2,907,322 tonnes of rice to earn $1,598,261 during the period July-March 2022-23.

Of them basmati variety was 428,404 tonnes worth $456,361 and non-basmati 2,478,918 tonnes valuing $1,141,900.

Rice trade expert Hamid Malik says with the current export trend Pakistan will be able to cross the $2bn export target.

An official of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) said export figures in terms of quantity may be down but the way the crop has been affected, the foreign sales are comparatively satisfactory as exporters are getting fair prices.

“Ever high export prices and demand are there in the foreign markets. Though the crop is less in quantity but in terms of the value we are set to cross the $2bn mark.”

Last year Pakistan exported rice worth $2.5bn, historically the highest figure.

There is a very encouraging situation on the export front but local businesses are severely hit as scarcity of foreign exchange is preventing the import of machinery and material meant for value-addition.

“Machinery imports are stuck up. Things that are ultimately meant for exports are blocked. Letters of credit for planters, harvesters, and rice processing machines are not being opened. The companies working on sustainable production agriculture are being disallowed to import solar panels,” the official says requesting not to be named.

However, Momin Malik, Director of Seeds at Guard Agricultural Research and Services Ltd, says as basmati rice are getting a good price, particularly in the international markets, there is a growing trend of plating basmati this year instead of non-basmati varieties, which had been claiming the basmati acreage for the last few years.

Also due to delays in wheat harvesting because of late sowing as well as low temperatures in March slowing down the crop’s maturing process, the sale of rice seeds of coarse varieties has declined by over 10pc. For, he explains, the window for reaping a third crop of hybrid rice, between wheat and basmati rice, has narrowed down because of delay in wheat harvesting.
 
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The Express Tribune
Apr 25, 2023

Pakistan’s water losses have exceeded its total storage capacity but a shortage of water in the early Kharif season is likely to affect a number of crops including cotton.

Pakistan manages to store just 13 million acres feet (MAF) of water while 15-17 MAF of water is lost.

Experts say loss of 1MAF of water costs $1 billion to the national economy. These losses could be reduced through efficient use of water, participants at a recent meeting of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) were told, some official sources said.

Punjab, however, cast doubts at the reports about water loss and Irsa has formed a committee, composed of members from Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Sindh, to probe the matter.

Over the passt five years, climate change has altered the trends of water availability. Glaciers start melting late, delaying the availability of water in the rivers and affecting Kharif crops.

Kharif season starts in April and continues till September. The key crops of Kharif are rice, sugar cane, maize, maash pulse and – most importantly – cotton.

“We have seen the dangerous impact of climate change on water availability in the rivers during the last five years,” Irsa spokesperson Khalid Idrees Rana told The Express Tribune.

Temperature starts rising after April. Now water is available in the rivers in July. Therefore, the Kharif crops face grave shortages in the early season, he said.

There is another issue that will be causing water shortage during the Kharif season.

The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) is working on Tarbela Tunnel-5, which requires a certain level of water. Therefore, Irsa has to maintain a certain water level in Tarbela dam.

Thirdly, the country is now facing a basin problem in connection with flow of water in the rivers. Earlier, all the rivers used to flow at the same level but the situation has now changed.

It has been witnessed that when water is flowing in the River Indus and the River Kabul, the River Chenab and River Jhelum run dry.

According to Irsa, the Punjab and Sindh provinces will be facing a 27% water shortage in the current Kharif season, posing a serious threat to the Kharif crops.

The major Kharif crop is cotton, which is a raw material for the textile industry, one of the major exports of the country.

However, water shortage will reduce to 10% late in the season. The irrigation water shortage in the Indus zone will be 37% in early Kharif and 15% late in the season.

The shortage in the Jhelum-Chenab rivers will be 10% in early Kharif and negligible in the late season. In the Kharif season, the total river flows at rim stations will be around 95.32 MAF.

However, the total system losses will stand at 13.96 MAF. 70 MAF of water will be available during the Kharif season – 14.58 MAF in early Kharif and 55.42 MAF late Kharif.

However, after allowing 7.26 MAF of mandatory discharges for downstream Kotri for environmental commitments, the total water availability at canal heads for distribution among the provinces would be just 62.74 MAF.

Balochistan and the K-P will continue to be exempted from water shortage because of their infrastructure constraints.

Pakistan’s cotton production has drastically declined mainly because of farmers switching to other crops, including rice, maize, and sugarcane, as cotton planting is not profitable.

The government is concerned about the shrinking cotton-sowing area and the continuous decline in production. Cotton is a key crop in Pakistan’s agricultural economy, but production has decreased, and the planting area is shrinking.

The national food security ministry had recently informed the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) that the production of cotton – being the key crop in the country's agricultural economy – reached a high of 14.1 million bales in the 2004-05 season.

However, in later years, its harvest averaged around 12 million bales while in the last four years, the output dropped to 7 million bales in 2020-21 and about 9.45 million bales in 2021-22.

The unprecedented floods last year significantly damaged the standing cotton crop, slashing the overall production to a mere 4.76 million bales—according to cotton arrivals till March 3, 2023—against the target of 9 million bales.
 
 
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Farm machines at Canton Fair attract Pakistani buyers​

By Saira Iqbal | Gwadar Pro
Apr 27, 2023

GUANGZHOU - During the 133rd China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair, a section for agricultural machines attracted a lot of Pakistani buyers.

Electric trolley is one of the devices that interest visitors the most. “It can carry more weight, and it is auto-controlled. The traditional trolley we use in Pakistan is completely different from that.” A Pakistani buyer said. “You can see how innovative they have made it by installing a motor and hydraulic system in a small trolley. It also fits small-scale farmers. It can have a huge market in Pakistan.” He added.

The booth said that the electric trolley normally works with an electric wood breaker. “It can break wood into small pieces. You can give commands through the control panel about how small the pieces you want to cut the wood into. You can also convert it into sawdust. The output will automatically fall into this trolley.” The exhibitor introduced.

Federal Minister for Industries and Production in Pakistan, Syed Murtaza Mahmud recently stressed the importance of farm mechanization. He also encouraged converting raw products into value-added products to promote agribusiness.
Automatic grinder is a widely used machine for value-added agricultural products in China. “

It is very interesting that you can put whatever crop in it, like wheat, spices, even meat. Here all of your demands for the machine will be met, whatever power and capacity you want,” said another Pakistani buyer. “I think the products at Canton Fair are of good quality with fair prices. When you place orders in large quantity, the price will be fairer.”

In this place, we can find a lot of advanced devices that can be introduced to Pakistan, which are essential for increasing the agricultural productivity of the country. Hope these new technologies can give Pakistan more inspiration to make agribusiness more productive and profitable.
 
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Chinese importers eye Pakistani sesame production recovery​


Apr 29, 2023

QINGDAO (China Economic Net) ... Pakistan's sesame exports have increased from 100,000 tons in 2020 to 150,000 tons in 2021 after being allowed to export to China. It is expected to be a bumper crop as last year sellers Sowing had increased by 25 percent since getting better prices. These views were expressed by Ms. Li Yuanyuan, Director of the Greater China Region of JKT Foods, an agricultural produce trading company, after the China International Sesame Conference held last week in the coastal city of Qingdao, China Economic Net (CEN). ) in an interview.

"Before Pakistani sesame was allowed to enter China, most of our products were sold to the Middle East," he said. China offers a vast market to Pakistani sesame.

He told CEN that under good climatic conditions, consistent quality, free from pesticide residues and clean color of Pakistani sesame gives it a competitive edge in the international market.

Also, shipping to China is the fastest, Ms Li told CEN. Direct ship can reach Chinese port in 12 to 14 days.

Pakistani sesame seeds hit the Chinese market around October every year, so there will be plenty of time to sell before the Chinese Lunar New Year, which is usually a big target for consumption.

That being said, the arrival of sesame in the Pakistani market coincides with the rainy season, Ms Lee added. If it rains, the quality of the sesame will be compromised, and Chinese buyers can only choose sesame from other countries as a substitute.

Pakistan exports 80% of the total production of sesame seeds. At present, Iran and China are the major buyers of Pakistan's sesame but are gaining market share due to the increase in exports from other countries.

China's sesame imports account for about 1/3 of world production. As of 2020, its import has crossed one million tonnes for three consecutive years, providing a huge market to Pakistani producers.

Sesame production in Pakistan is also increasing rapidly. In recent years, the use of hybrid varieties has increased the sesame harvest from a mere 36,000 tonnes in 2019 to 150,000 tonnes in 2022 despite devastating floods. This increase is mainly due to the hybrid variety as it has higher demand and better quality than the farm variety, which has reduced in size by up to 50% due to lower demand, quality issues and higher FFA value.

But it is difficult to predict the overall harvest this year because the weather plays a big role at this time, Ms Lee said.

He told CEN that currently most Pakistani sesame exported to China is raw sesame. In the next few years, as Pakistan's sesame processing technology develops, highly processed sesame such as colored sesame and dehulled sesame are expected to gain more popularity in the sugar market.
 
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Kharif is currently the most cultivated cotton season. After harvesting the wheat crop, cotton cultivation is going on rapidly.
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‘Next decade is era of precision agriculture’

Staff Reporter
Apr 30, 2023

The rising population and shrinking agricultural land put stress on agriculture and stressed the adoption of modern and scientific approaches to revive agriculture.

Zaigham Mahmood Rizvi, a Member, ZTBL Board of Directors, said that despite impending water scarcity, 70-80% of water consumed in agriculture is wasted. He highlighted that $15-20 billion can be added by import substitution of agricultural products and can be instrumental in transforming the socio-economic landscape of rural communities. He further said that revamping the agriculture sector is impossible without empowering rural women and focusing on water conservation and efficiency and renewable energy.

Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director, of SDPI, said that food security is a major concern of Pakistan that is linked with other national security issues and needs to be urgently resolved.

Though Pakistan has improved the productivity of certain crops, diversification of food baskets continue to be a challenge, and inadequacies in access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are also issues. Highlighting the issues of misalignment and lack of coordination between high-standard research and indigenous agricultural technology, he called for the extension of agricultural financing products and capacity building of workers. He said that a golden triangle can be created by converging skills, market, and capital forces.

He further said that the “next decade is the era of precision agriculture” and it is an untapped market for financial institutions which can be exploited by collaboration with research institutions and Armed Forces which have expertise in drone-tech and GIS mapping.

To revive the agriculture sector and prevent over-utilisation of groundwater, he emphasised on solarisation of tube-wells adding that it must be coupled with technologies like drip and sprinkle irrigation to replace flood irrigation and tools like water tariff and pricing based on consumption rather than flat rate billing.

The MoU under a multi-partnership approach, intends to invite other stakeholders to develop and carry out joint ventures, pilot projects, and research activities to cater to today’s farm needs
 
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Chinese tech upgrading Pakistan’s Agricultural industry:​

May 19, 2023



During his visit to the headquarters of the Pak-China red chili project in Sichuan Province, China, Moin ul Haque expressed that the agricultural initiatives implemented under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have had a positive impact on enhancing local agricultural technology and modernizing Pakistan’s agricultural industry.

Chen Changwei, the chairman of Sichuan Litong Food Company, shared his perspective, stating that Pakistan possesses significant potential to export dried chili to China due to the trade preferences established between the two nations. Sichuan Litong Food Company has contributed its expertise in chili cultivation and management techniques to Pakistan, further facilitating this opportunity.

“Agricultural projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have a positive impact on improving local agricultural technology and upgrading Pakistan’s agricultural industry,” said Moin ul Haque, while visiting the headquarter of Pak-China red chili project in Sichuan Province in China.

According to Chen Changwei, chairman of Sichuan Litong Food Company, which has brought its chili cultivation experience and management techniques to Pakistan, Pakistan has a great potential to export dried chilli to China with the trade preferences between the two countries.

15,000 acres of chili planted in South Punjab in 2023 have already been picked, with 10,000 tons of dried peppers expected to be harvested in the second half of 2023.

After 3 years of demonstration planting, a growing number of farmers are seeing the quality and economic benefits of chili.

The success of the demonstration base for chili cultivation is attracting more attention from local small and medium-sized farmers through surveys, trial planting, small-scale planting and large-scale planting.

The ambassador also visited the production and R&D center of Pixian Douban, a major bean paste production base of Litong. Pixian Douban, made of Sichuan red chili, is an intangible cultural heritage of China. Chen expressed his willingness to extend the industrial chain to Pakistan.

Chen added that the company has invested in a preliminary chili processing plant in Pakistan to facilitate the cultivation, promotion and trade of agricultural products such as sorghum, sesame and peanuts, so that more Pakistani agricultural products can be involved in the global supply chain.
 
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Decision to increase cooperation between China and​

Pakistan in the establishment of Mugas​

May 21, 2023

Chigansha, (China Economic Net) : China Pakistan Apiculture Forum was held on Thursday, two days before World Bee Day.

The forum is also a core part of a beekeeping and honey processing technology training course for Pakistan launched by an agricultural group in China's Hunan province and will continue from May 10 to May 23, 2023.

At the forum, the Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, Peng Chen Sue, said that the Chinese government has promoted beekeeping and honey processing to promote the beekeeping industry and improve people's lives. Happy to share modern technology with Pakistanis.

Honey produced in Pakistan has long enjoyed a good reputation for its unique taste and high quality, but suffers from problems of low production, low cost and small scale. China has a beekeeping history of more than 2,000 years and is one of the earliest beekeeping countries in the world.

Both China and Pakistan have rich beekeeping traditions and have the potential to revolutionize the sector through mutual cooperation.

In 2019, each beekeeper brought an average of 11.7 kg of honey to Pakistan, compared to a world average of 20.6 kg. According to FAO statistics, about 390,000 people are engaged in beekeeping in Pakistan and produce more than 4,000 tons of honey annually. However, if modern production technology and standard production methods are adopted, the country's honey production is expected to increase to 70,000 tonnes annually and create around 87,000 green jobs.

According to Member Food Security and Climate Change, Planning Commission of Pakistan Nadia Rehman, the two countries can participate in knowledge exchange, research partnership and technology transfer to fully realize the potential of cooperation in agriculture.

China's expertise in large-scale beekeeping practices, honey production, and value addition can be shared with Pakistan.

Moreover, China's experience in breeding and genetic conservation of disease-resistant bee breeds can contribute greatly to strengthening the bee population of Pakistan.

As of 2020, India is the country with the highest number of bees at around 12.2 million, but China has surpassed India in terms of production volume, producing around 458,000 metric tons of honey in 2020.

Collaborative efforts can also be directed towards research projects that trace the adaptation of bee species to different regions of Pakistan, identify native plant species that support healthy pollinator populations, and develop modern beekeeping practices suited to local contexts.

Moreover, the cooperation between China and Pakistan in manufacturing goes beyond economic aspects. It is aligned with the broader goals of sustainable development, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation.

Knowledge sharing and joint research efforts will improve beekeeping practices, disease control and sustainable beekeeping techniques in Pakistan. By working together, both countries can address common challenges such as climate change, habitat loss, and the use of harmful pesticides, promoting the well-being of bees and their vital role in ecosystems.
 
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LoI on China-Pakistan agricultural S&T collaboration signed​

May 23, 2023




SHANGHAI: The Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS) and the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on China-Pakistan agricultural science and technology collaboration.

This milestone agreement signifies a new era of agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

The LoI outlines the intention of both institutions to collaborate on joint teaching, training, research, and other mutually agreed activities. The goal is to strengthen the program and foster a closer relationship between SAAS and UAF.

Areas of collaboration specified in the LoI include post-harvest treatment of agricultural products, integrated pest management in crops such as rice, corn, and nut fruits, understanding the molecular mechanisms of pests and their interaction with agricultural products, utilization of agricultural resources, germplasm evaluation, deployment of specialty maize hybrids, and more.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by SAAS President Professor Cai Youming and UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.

Prof Khan expressed his enthusiasm for learning from China’s expertise in post-harvest processing, biological breeding, product innovation, technical services, and knowledge transfer.

The aim is to leverage each other’s strengths and establish a robust mechanism for exchange and cooperation.

This collaboration holds great promise for the agricultural sectors of both countries. By sharing knowledge, expertise, and resources, China and Pakistan can work together to address common challenges and drive innovation in the field of agriculture.

The LoI signing marks a significant step towards deepening bilateral ties and unlocking new opportunities for growth and development in the agricultural sector.
 
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Pakistani Deserts
These green circles have started appearing on Pakistani deserts
What makes this system so unique?
Center pivot irrigation systems have a life span of 40-50 years as compared to drip irrigation system that spans over 5-8 years most!
This system is efficient particular in the face of weather anomalies like frost and heatwave with Controller overhead irrigation systems.
Hopefully, we will keep seeing more of such green circles in near future over the horizon.
Coordinates of Farm: 30.501866806335588, 71.42973375790385
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Chinese chilli seeds give higher yields

The Newspaper's
May 31, 2023


 Red Sky variety of hybrid Chinese chillies grown at a model farm in Multan.—Dawn


Red Sky variety of hybrid Chinese chillies grown at a model farm in Multan.

LAHORE: A local agriculture research company claims to have harvested three-fold more yield from Chinese hybrid chilli varieties in successful cultivation projects in Sindh and Punjab.

“We have successfully reaped 75 maunds per acre yield of chillies crop from three different Chinese varieties in the local environment against 25-30 maunds produced by indigenous seeds,” says Dr Abdul Rashid, a farm scientist of the Guard Agricultural Research & Services.

The Chinese hybrid varieties whose fruit is over six inches long had been sown on 7,500 acres in different districts of Sindh and Punjab and will be cultivated on at least 30,000 acres in the next season, Dr Rashid informed Dawn during a visit to a model chillies farm on Monday.

He says that Chinese company LTEC is collaborating with Guard to improve the productivity of local crops and that all chilli yield will be purchased from the growers for its onward export to China.
 
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‘Thousand acres of desert lands transformed into cultivable farmland’

Amjad Ali Shah
June 2, 2023

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PESHAWAR: The Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin visited Samson Agri Farm Rangpur Muzaffargarh and participated as the chief guest in a groundbreaking ceremony of the Centre Pivot Hitech Irrigation System and a Solar Power Unit at Samsons Agri Farms Rangpur Muzaffargarh hosted by Samsons Group and Haier Group.

The event witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including District Administration officials, senior police officials and leaders from the business community, said in a press release issued here on Thursday.

Ambassador Kistafin commended the joint venture for its transformative efforts and emphasized the importance of mutual business activities and cooperation among friendly states.

This joint venture led by Samsons Group CEO, Waseem ur Rehman, along with Haier Group executives, Khalid Afridi and Faisal Afridi, successfully converted barren desert lands in Muzaffargarh, Punjab into cultivable farmland.

The transformative initiative not only generated significant employment opportunities for local communities but also led to a substantial increase in foreign exchange earnings for Pakistan.

The project’s commencement, involving the acquisition of over 5,000 acres of desert land in Muzaffargarh, Punjab, has garnered immense acclaim both within Pakistan and abroad.

By adopting the advanced Central Pivot Hitech Irrigation System, an American methodology, the company has successfully cultivated Rhodes grass, a high-demand animal feed.

Moreover, the joint initiative by Samsons Group and Haier Group has generated substantial employment opportunities for local residents, providing both permanent and daily wage jobs over the past five years.

Demonstrating their commitment to social responsibility, Samsons Group and Haier Group have organized frequent medical camps, providing free healthcare services to underprivileged individuals in the vicinity.

The companies have also established a healthcare unit and a water filtration plant to address the essential needs of the local community.

Waseem ur Rehman, CEO of Samsons Group, revealed plans to establish a hospital, a Grand Mosque, and a school as part of the ongoing efforts to contribute to the region’s welfare.

It is Pertinent to mention here that last year during a visit to the site, His Highness Prince Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Saad Al Saud, Governor of Hafr Al Batin Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), expressed his admiration for the Samsons Group and Haier Group initiative.

His Highness underscored the initiative’s significance in promoting sustainable agriculture practices and fostering economic growth. As a symbol of solidarity, the Governor planted a tree on the premises, signifying the commitment to environmental sustainability.
 
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