Pakistan Agriculture Developments

[jupiter2007]

Since Pakistani economy is dependent on Agriculture sector, there are major changes required to transformed it into an export oriented one.
If Pakistan continue the use of modern technology and new techniques, our production will quadruple in next five years.

 

[FuturePAF]

Pakistan should look towards NZ & Netherlands for inspiration in reforming the agri sector. Long term goal should be to make farming be subsidy free. Basic takeaway is to increase productivity. To do this you need to invest in technological innovation, make value added products, have linkages b/w farmers & academia & adopt new farming techniques & mechanical equipment. Finally, it needs to be seen as a backbone sector of the country & treated as such.

Pakistan should establish links with both NZ & Netherlands. Hire consultants from NZ & Netherlands for short term. Long term, send over students & policy makers in order to learn from them & bring this experience home.

considering nearly every adult and teenager has a smartphone, developing apps that can bring industrial machine technologies into a handheld form using the phone’s camera (especially if one of the cameras can see in IR) could go a long way in implementing the most modern farming techniques and helping to grow food with the least amount of other inputs like over use of fertilizer and water.

Hyperspectral imaging in agriculture

Spectral imaging is the detection of light reflected by the crop with the use of specialized sensors. It is measured in spectral bands. The higher the number of bands the higher the accuracy, the…

medium.com

 

[ghazi52]

ADB approves $200mn loan for Punjab’s irrigation system development

• The scheme will provide irrigation water supply to 704,000 hectares of land in Bhakkar, Jhang, Khushab, Layyah, and Muzaffargarh districts

BR Web Desk
13 Dec 2021

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved on Monday a $200 million loan for the development of an irrigation system in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

The project loan, which is denominated in Japanese yen, will finance the construction of the second branch or Choubara system of the Greater Thal Canal irrigation scheme, read a statement by ADB. The scheme will provide irrigation water supply to 704,000 hectares of land in Bhakkar, Jhang, Khushab, Layyah, and Muzaffargarh districts, making them more agriculturally productive.

“Given Pakistan’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, it is essential to build irrigation infrastructure for climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov.

“ADB’s support will help boost the supply of local produce and promote food security, while increasing economic growth.”

ADB said that because of Pakistan’s semi-arid climate, agricultural production is highly dependent on irrigation. Yet, irrigation efficiency remains low due to water shortages, land degradation, and mismanagement of water resources.

Under the Choubara branch system ADB will help construct comprises a 72-kilometer branch canal, 11 secondary canals totaling 251 kilometers, and 11 tertiary canals totaling 127 kilometers. ADB will also help develop on-farm agricultural command areas, pilot water conservation technologies such as land leveling and high-efficiency irrigation systems and help to train farmers in water management and climate-resilient agricultural practices.

“By integrating infrastructure and agricultural interventions, this project directly supports smallholder farmers to manage their limited resources more efficiently and maximize the benefits from irrigated agriculture,” ADB Principal Portfolio Management Specialist Natsuko Totsuka said.

“The project will strengthen the capacity of local authorities to maintain these irrigation systems, boost rural economic growth and help to reduce poverty in the province.”

 

[ghazi52]

Joint Pakistan-China peanut cultivation can counter high edible oil prices

December 20, 2021




Pak-China cooperation on peanut cultivation can be a solution to high edible oil prices.

Earlier this month, the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) in Pakistan asked the Ministry of Industries & Production (MoIP) to control edible oil prices by exploring alternative options for the imported palm and soya bean oil. Shandong Rainbow Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd in China has been planing a Pak-China peanut oil cooperation for a few years, which may meet Pakistan’s demand.

“To continue China-Pakistan agricultural projects, our company registered a new company in Pakistan and appointed me as the CEO. The peanut oil cooperation is our key project,” said Babar Ijaz, overseas business manager at Shandong Rainbow Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd and CEO of Sino-Pak Agriculture Pvt. Ltd.

“Peanut oil is the world’s best frying oil. Its smog point is near 260 degrees centigrade. Peanut contains more than 50 percent oil. Once we are self-sufficient in peanut production, we can produce more by-products for export.

“We can also reduce our import bill of edible oil,” said Muhammad Jahanzaib, scientific officer of the Oil Seed Research Program in National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) in Pakistan. He reveals that NARC has started to attach importance to peanut industry in Pakistan.”

 

[ghazi52]

SBP sets Rs 1.7 trillion agriculture credit target for FY 2022

Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Dr. Reza Baqir on Monday lauded banks performance in achieving the unprecedented level of agriculture credit disbursement of Rs1.4 trillion in FY21.

Chairing an annual meeting of Agricultural Credit Advisory Committee (ACAC) in Multan, he appreciated the fact that despite COVID-19 pandemic challenges, collective efforts of 50 financial institutions under ACAC guidance helped achieve 91% of assigned target, according to a news release.

In his inaugural speech, Dr. Reza Baqir emphasized that banks leadership could now take this journey to the next level of qualitative improvement in agriculture credit in line with the strategic shift and key policy actions taken by SBP.

Announcing current year’s agriculture credit target of Rs 1.7 trillion with 5 million borrowers, the Governor marked the insistent need to address quality of credit, its geographical imbalances and uneven distribution amongst different categories of borrowers.

On the occasion, the SBP Governor announced two new measures to help boost agriculture financing. First, a comprehensive scoring model to rank banks according to key agriculture credit indicators and targets. To foster a competitive environment, the banks performing well will duly be recognized whereas under performing banks will be strongly encouraged to focus on metrics where improvement is needed. The second measure designates a bank volunteering to serve as a champion/lead bank in an underserved province/area.

Further steps in this regard include establishing help desks in under served areas to facilitate farmers, and launching targeted and collaborative awareness drives for an extensive outreach. He concluded that SBP’s vision will serve two-fold purposes; enhancing farmers financial inclusion while providing more lending opportunities to the banks.

Upon convening ACAC meeting in Multan, the Governor especially highlighted the immense agricultural potential of the area and the opportunities in expanding agriculture finance. This was followed by a presentation on the performance of banks in agricultural financing. ACAC deliberated on the new directions in agricultural financing, particularly the climate smart agriculture practices and the role that financial institutions can play.

 

[ghazi52]

Shibli Faraz, the federal minister of Science and Technology, officiated in the harvesting of the first official crop of bhang (Cannabis).

The federal minister stated at the inauguration event that the first crop of bhang (Cannabis) cultivated on the government level was successfully prepared in three and a half months.

According to the data, the cannabis plant seeds were obtained from Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan, and they were grown on a one-acre plot of land.

On this occasion, the federal minister emphasised the benefits of cannabis cultivation and its use in the medical industry. He stated that cannabis cultivation is ten times more useful than other substances, and that we will not focus on the negative aspects. The minister also stated that bhang might be used as a substitute crop for cotton

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan, China join hands for new wheat varieties

Researchers will develop different seed varieties to cope with harsh conditions


December 23, 2021

Federal government is taking measures for smooth supply of urea at affordable prices to help farmers in the planting of wheat crop. PHOTO: FILE


MULTAN: Pakistani and Chinese researchers have collaborated to enhance food security of Pakistan and develop different varieties of seeds to withstand harsh conditions.

“We are trying to cross the high-yielding and drought-resistant Chinese wheat germplasm with our local ones,” said Bahauddin Zakariya University Professor Habibur Rehman Athar while speaking to the China Economic Net.

“Once accomplished, they are expected to reduce the cost by 13% and increase farmers’ return by 25-27%.”

He is working with researchers of the Northwest A&F University, China at the Sino-Pak Biohealth Agriculture Demonstration Park.
Hopefully within the next three to four years, Pakistan will have clear-cut results of the inclusion of Chinese officials in the field of food security.

During the past three years, the two sides have been publishing papers jointly, exchanging scientific visits and submitting research projects.

“Our group for wheat research consists of 34 students including undergraduates, masters, and doctoral candidates,” said Athar.

The team envisages identification of stress-tolerant wheat cultivars by screening and selecting the local germplasm as well as exotic ones. Among Chinese germplasm, five lines are found to have good performance in terms of yield and tolerance.

Wheat cultivar S24 has been verified by the foreign research institutes, including the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), as a high-yielding and salt stress-tolerant variety.

In the next step, the group will cross it with other cultivars that are rust-resistant and have a moderate height.

The group is also working to apply Chinese nano fertilisers and nano biochar to Pakistani wheat varieties.

Wheat is Pakistan’s number one food crop. “During the last 10 years, around 15 lines have been rolled out, but since we now have Chinese germplasm, we can improve them,” he said.

“We aim to increase the yield by 2.7% and enhance the physiological performance by 27%.”

Through the Sino-Pak Biohealth Agriculture Demonstration Park, farmers can look at the experimentation and actual cultivars.

“It will not only increase the productivity on farm fields but will also contribute to the food security of Pakistan,” said Athar.
THE ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON THE CHINA ECONOMIC NET

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2021.

 

[ghazi52]

Beauty of nature with full of colors. \
Wheat and Mustard field somewhere near Chowdagi to Sarhari road in Sindh ....

 

[ghazi52]

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said on Thursday that the country’s farmers would not face a urea shortage as the government would import a total of 150,000 metric tons from China with one-third arriving on an urgent basis next month.

“The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved the (total) import of 150,000 metric tons of urea from China,” Fawad said via his Twitter handle.

The minister informed that the first ship carrying 50,000 metric tons of urea will arrive on February 10. “From January onwards, 600,000 metric tons of local urea will also start arriving in the market,” he said.

Fawad added that despite the high prices of urea in the global market, “our farmers will not face a shortage of the commodity”.

The development comes as ECC, after deliberation, allowed import of 50,000 metric tons urea on government-to-government basis from China on an immediate basis on Wednesday. The import is subject to clearance from the Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).

The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) was also tasked to negotiate price with Chinese suppliers authorised by the government of China for further import of urea.

Meanwhile, Business Recorder reported that the high urea and DAP prices coupled with shortage is likely to have serious negative impact on agricultural growth as the country could miss the Rabi crops production targets especially, wheat production target set at 28.9 million tons, informed relevant officials and agriculturalist.

They said increase in the prices of urea and the DAP fertilizer will set aside all the positive impacts of the Rabi crops especially wheat; however, they maintained that the current spell of rain will have a positive impact on the crops grown in the arid areas of the country

Earlier, Chief Secretary Punjab Kamran Ali Afzal had said that the fear of shortage of urea fertilizer has led to panic buying and a higher demand than the actual requirement. The federal industries department has been requested to increase the supply and the situation in this regard would improve soon, he said.

Afzal said that the transportation of fertilizers is being monitored through an online portal. He maintained that the effective administrative measures have helped end the smuggling of fertilizers. He said that he went to DG Khan and inspected the provincial border check-posts to review the arrangements to curb smuggling.

 

[khail007]

A very bad state of availability of fertilizers in Pakistan at a critical time of sowing wheat when the farmers need it most. Today farmers are suffering in queues to get the fertilizers tomorrow we Pakistanis will suffer in queues to get the flour if farmers failed to achieve the target of wheat production - the hoarders/black marketers/fertilizer mafia will not suffer but the people of Pakistan.
Even in such chaos, some people are trying hard to get the solution/workaround. Salute to them for their struggle for themselves and for the benefit of the farmers of Pakistan. This is the beginning of organic farming with significant cost-cutting and better production than chemical-based fertilizers. In the beginning, if small farmers could adapt that on a mutual co-operative basis then it will be beneficial for them:

 

[ghazi52]

Mango growers advised to insulate orchards from frost

APP
10 Jan, 2022

MULTAN: The Agriculture Department advised farmers to opt for light irrigation of their mango orchards at night in case of chances of frost to save mango plants from adverse impact.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, Assistant Director Abdus Samad said that mango was termed as king of fruits which was being produced in over 90 countries. About 18 countries including Pakistan produce over 87 percent mangoes. Pakistan is ranked as 6th biggest country in terms of mango production as the fruit was cultivated over 170,000 hectares in the country. The total production is 1,784,000 tonnes in Pakistan.

Abdus Samad observed that frost could damage the plants to a greater extent. He, however, added that farmers should avoid irrigation in case their plants did not bear fruit last year and may have carbohydrates in excess.

When farmers noticed their plants meeting flower stage prematurely and early due to higher temperature during day time and resorted to water application which further supported the flower stage instead of stopping it. For such plants or orchards, he added, it is recommended that plants should not get water.

However, light irrigation can be done in frosty nights to save plants from frost. He said, farmers should also beware of mango mealy bug commonly called ‘Aam Ki Gadhairy’. Female mealy bug lays eggs in soil and its population start in December every year and climb up the trees to suck juice.

He instructed farmers to incorporate some safety hurdles on the trunks of mango trees to prevent the pest crawl up to the upper part of trees. The branches of trees touching or approaching ground should also be trimmed for prevention of mealy bugs’ access. He said that farmers should also arrange animal waste fertilizers for need-based application in mango orchards.

 

[ghazi52]

The famous fruit of Karachi

Green Sharifa (Sita fruit), Red Sharifa (Ram fruit)

(CUSTARD APPLE)

Sharifa is the fruit of warm climate. It is eaten with great relish in many countries of the world. Sharifa's hometown is the West Indies. From here Sharifa reached southern Mexico. Arrived in Central America. It was later introduced in southern Peru and Brazil. It is now grown in Bermuda, South Florida, South America and Kolkata, India. It is being cultivated in Pakistan. It is cultivated only in Sindh province.

Fruit enthusiasts also cultivate it in their home garden. Apart from seeds, Sharifa is also cultivated by grafting and transplanting. It is harvested only twice a year. Flowers bloom in the month of March. These flowers become fruits in the month of July and ripen in December. The Sharifa tree can grow up to five meters tall. The leaves are long and rough. The fruit is greenish on the outside and hard. When the fruit ripens, its skin becomes soft. The skin breaks when pressed lightly. The white, delicious pulp inside the fruit is eaten with gusto. Kacha Sharifa, which is green in color, is cooked if it is wrapped in paper and kept in store for eight to ten days.

Sharif's seeds are black, shiny and very bitter. These seeds are used only in medicine. A botanist says that the salt of the leaves of Sharifa is found which is beneficial if applied on boils, boils and wounds. Drinking the decoction of these leaves removes tumors and stomach ulcers. Applying a paste of leaves on the scalp eliminates lice in the hair. The bark of Sharifa tree is useful in relieving diarrhea. Its root eliminates dysentery, myocardial infarction and spinal cord pain.
shareefa fruit

Saturatedfat is low in fat, but high in protein and starch. It also contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Potassium, Magnesium and Steel. Vitamin A improves vision. Vitamins help prevent osteoporosis. Potassium relieves muscle weakness. Magnesium relieves joint pain and inflammation. Ice cream is made from the sweet and delicious pulp of Sharifa. In addition, Malik Shake is also made.

The wood of Sharifa tree is useful. In the villages, small agricultural implements are made from its wood. Its wood is used to attach oxen to cobblestones. Strawberries, locusts and lychees were not cultivated in Pakistan before, but are now being cultivated. Now these fruits are not only meeting the needs of the country, but also earning foreign exchange through them. People associated with agriculture should also pay attention to increase the cultivation of Sharifa.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan is the heartland of agriculture. Pakistan consists of a wide variety of soils which have significant variations in characteristics and distribution. The total arable land in Pakistan is 79.61 million hectares, out of which, only 22 million hectares is used for crop production There are almost 750 different kinds of identified soils in Pakistan which are grouped in classes I-IV by the Soil Survey of Pakistan. The lands for arable use are recorded in the first four classes (I to IV), and the last four (V to VIII) are for non-arable use e.g. for forestry.

Pakistani soils have below than desirable organic matter content. According to international standards a healthy soil has 1.29% organic matter (Carbon level), but Pakistani soils have recorded 0.52-1.38% Carbon content in different soil series. Most of the soils have even less than 1% mainly because Pakistan exists in the semi-arid environment, climate variations, low economic state of Pakistani farmers, practice of soil tillage and many more. Agriculture in Pakistan accounts for almost 24% GDP, contributes 60% to our export earnings. and employs 48 percent of the labor force.

 

[ghazi52]

China to help Pakistan in Agricultural Transformation Plan (ATP)​

January 21, 2022




ISLAMABAD: National Food Security Minister Syed Fakhr Imam on Wednesday annexed much of the success of the government’s Agricultural Transformation Plan (ATP) to the collaboration of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and said the move would be a game-changer for Pakistan.

“We need to exchange expertise on mechanisation, new variety development and germplasm. By seeking assistance from China, which leads the world in agriculture mechanisation, Pakistan can catapult its agriculture sector through learning from their knowledge and experience,” Mr Imam said while chairing the 16th meeting of the National Coordination Committee on ATP.

The government has mandated the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) to negotiate the agreement of cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. PARC Chairman Dr Ghulam Amjad told Dawn that a memorandum of understanding has been drafted and shared with the Chinese Academy for finalisation.

Dr Amjad said under the MoU, Pakistan will seek Chinese cooperation in the development of crop varieties, animal breed improvement, collaboration in further development of agricultural machinery and improvement of capacity development and training. It is likely that when the MoU is signed, the Chinese Academy would establish its office at the National Agricultural Research Centre in Islamabad.

The minister said the quality of seed was one of the primary factors that decided the productivity of a crop. For improving the productivity of crops, the quality and provision of high-quality seed must be enhanced, he added.

The meeting was informed that upgraded seed processing plants will be in place by next year for Punjab Seed Department.

 

[ghazi52]

Chinese Yunnan province assists Pakistan to boost wheat production​

January 28, 2022
APP

​

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (APP): The production of wheat, Pakistan’s most important crop, is expected to rise with Sino-Pak cooperation this year, according to China’s Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS).

Yunnan and Pakistan have similarities in climate, wheat variety characteristics, cultivation conditions, meanwhile confronted with shared challenges including stripe rust, drought, high temperature, etc. Therefore, both wheat varieties and technologies can be directly applied to each other, Luo Yanjie, Head of YAAS International Cooperation Division, told CEN.

Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS) and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) started cooperation in 2014. They have been closely cooperating in food crop, cash crop, plant protection, biotechnology and socio-economic development for more than seven years.

In 2016, two among fourteen Chinese wheat DH varieties introduced to Pakistan entered the country’s regional test. Simultaneously, ten Pakistani wheat varieties were brought to China, among which three anti-stripe rust varieties were selected. Especially, in 2017, via China National Seed Group Co., Ltd., Yunnan Hybrid Wheat No. 12 variety was grown in Pakistan on a trial basis. Results showed a 32% increase in production compared with local varieties.

Academically, through cooperative research, the two sides have jointly published four SCI papers and publications on drought relief, rust disease, and hybrid wheat, etc.
The exchanges of agricultural experts between Yunnan and Pakistan also have been playing an important role in enhancing agricultural cooperation. So far, 10 Pakistani scientists from PARC and University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, etc. came to Yunnan for joint agricultural research.

After they returned to Pakistan, they have been continuously contributing to Pakistan’s agricultural development and Sino-Pak agricultural cooperation.
This year, three Pakistani young scientists will arrive in Yunnan later for further research, which comprises nearly one third of the total overseas scientists who have been approved to come to YAAS.

Next, by establishing joint laboratory and joint research center, the two sides will further strengthen advanced Chinese wheat breeding technology, wheat disease prevention and control technology’s application in Pakistan to help improve mutual food security.

Through fully tap and utilize both China and Pakistan’s wheat gene characteristics, we will further consolidate the joint research of wheat breeding especially resistance breeding such as disease resistance, insect resistance, drought resistance and lodging resistance, high-yield breeding, and multi-functional breeding, etc., Luo said.