The first batch of 300 participants in the Prime Minister of Pakistan's initiative to train 1,000 young agricultural professionals in China arrived in Xi’an, Shaanxi province. The trainees will undergo three months of hands-on training in agro-technology, climate-resilient agriculture, and modern farming practices at Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (NWAFU) and Yangling Vocational and Technical College, noted Chinese institutions for agricultural education and skill development, Gwadar Pro reported on Thursday.

Bilal Mahmood Chaudhary, Deputy Head of Mission at the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing, along with senior Chinese officials, received the trainees at Xi’an International Airport. Following their arrival, the participants were briefed on the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, the scope of the three-month training program, and expanding agricultural cooperation between the two nations. This capacity-building initiative is part of broader efforts by the Pakistani government to modernise the country’s agricultural sector and equip young professionals with skills needed to address future challenges.

According to another report from Islamabad, the initiative, titled the Prime Minister’s Initiative for Capacity Building of 1,000 Agricultural Graduates in China, seeks to equip young professionals with cutting-edge skills in farm technology, biotechnology, and sustainable agriculture practices. “Through collaboration with leading Chinese universities and research institutes, the programme offers specialised training in nine high-priority areas including farm mechanisation, biotechnology, genomics, precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, and high-efficiency irrigation systems,” the ministry stated.

PM Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain are scheduled to attend a send-off ceremony on April 15 for the departing batch. The training programme, which will span between three to six months, is fully funded by the Pakistani government. Graduates were selected through a merit-based competitive process, with placements aligned to their academic specialisations.

According to the ministry, participants are expected to return as “master trainers” who will play a pivotal role in transferring knowledge and modern techniques to local farming communities, universities, and research institutions. The government had earlier announced plans to send a total of 1,000 agricultural graduates to China in 2025 under this capacity-building effort. Officials say the initiative reflects Islamabad’s commitment to transforming agriculture into a high-tech and sustainable sector that can meet food security challenges and boost economic growth.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China