ISLAMABAD (June 10, 2009): Pakistan is set to launch hybrid seeds pilot project with the support of Chinese experts to enhance the productivity of cotton, rice, edible oil and sugarcane in the country. Six-member Chinese delegation led by Zheng Ghun Bai, from China Bubei Provincial Science and Technology Department along with Guobao Yuan, Chairman, Hubei Provincial Seed Group Company Limited, on Monday called on the Chairman, Parc Dr Zafar Altaf to discuss the launching of the pilot projects.

Chinese delegation is currently visiting Pakistan to launch the irri-rice and cotton project while the work of developing edible oil seeds, higher quality sugarcane crop would be launched in the next 'Rabi' season. The delegation would simultaneously work to increase the irri-rice production at the farms of national agriculture research council in Thatta and Dhokri in Sindh. While the cotton project is being launched at Multan, Bahawalpur and Chak Faiz area near Bahawalpur in Punjab and Sanghar district in Sindh.

According to the Parc, the average cotton production in Pakistan was half a tonne per hectare, while the same in China was nine tonnes per hectare. The sugar content in cane in the country was 9.5 percent whereas in China 17.5 percent, edible oil production in Pakistan was 2.8 tonnes per hectare against 7.6 tonnes per hectare in China. The records also shows that Pakistan produces 6 tonnes Irri-rice per hectare and China produces 12 tonnes per hectare of similar varieties.

Talking to the delegation Dr Zafar Altaf said that Pakistan is currently importing edible oil worth $1.3 billion per annum and the country's edible oil industry was growing at the rate of nine percent annually. "Therefore we want to grow edible oil crops in the country to cut the import bill," he told the delegation.

He also said that Pakistan need to train manpower in kitchen gardening to increase production of Tomato, onion, potato, cucumber and other daily use vegetables. Dr Zafar Altaf said floriculture and horticulture are vital areas and we want to develop this sector too. He said we like to enter into high density fruit crops.

The projects are based on Memorandum of Understandings signed by Pakistan and China during recent the President Islamic Republic of Pakistan's visit to China. The MOUs were signed between Chairman, PARC, Dr Zafar Altaf, and Chinese counterparts for development of agriculture sector of Pakistan.


Courtesy Business Recorder