Muhammad Saleem

China has a wealth of experience in precision farming and biotechnology, and Pakistan can revolutionize its agriculture by providing Chinese entrepreneurs with a conducive business environment.

Talking to WealthPK, Dr. Ahmed from the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, said Pakistani farmers were struggling with outdated practices which can not produce yields on a par with developed nations. He said Chinese investments could help Pakistani entrepreneurs and farmers adopt technological advancements to strengthen their financial position, ensure food security for the country and generate more jobs.

He asserted that establishing agro-processing zones in Pakistan in collaboration with Chinese entrepreneurs could take the agriculture sector to the next level. He explained that raw agricultural products could be processed at these zones before hitting the national and international markets. “By adding value to our products, we can ensure handsome profits for our growers and create more jobs,” he said. Similarly, ample scope exists in Pakistan for establishing cold storage facilities.

“With the help of such facilities, we can easily minimize the post-harvest losses, which would ultimately reduce the farmers’ financial losses. Currently, the post-harvest losses constitute a substantial portion of the total agricultural output,” he said. “We can ensure the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year by investing in cold chain logistics. Such facilities will also enhance the farmers' access to markets countrywide,” he added.

“For long-term prosperity in the agriculture sector, we must forge partnerships with Chinese universities to conduct research on modern farming techniques following Pakistan’s climate conditions. By adopting this approach, we would be able to develop customized solutions,” he said.

Tariq Ahmed, a local businessman dealing in agricultural products, told WealthPK that artificial intelligence was transforming every sphere of life, and the agriculture sector was no exception. He explained that through technological advancements, the Chinese were developing cutting-edge tools that helped farmers in boosting their yields and earring handsome profits.

He stressed the need for technology transfer collaborations with the Chinese firms. He said Pakistani farmers were facing the water availability issue and the Chinese modern irrigation systems could help them conserve water and maximize the crop output. This technology, Tariq said, could be a game-changer for the farmers of Sindh and Punjab regions where shortage of water was a serious issue.

Credit: INP-WealthPk