First-ever Intercropping Research Center by Chinese and Pakistani universities inaugurated
Muhammad Ali Raza, Pakistani post-doc from Sichuan Agricultural University, presented maize-soybean strip intercropping technology to PM Imran Khan. “The intercropping technology can use light so efficiently and produce two crops at one time. With new technologies like it, we can bring about revolution in the agriculture sector of Pakistan,” said PM Imran Khan at the farmers' convention. Intercropping, the cultivation of two or more crop species on the same land for a whole or specific period, is suitable for countries with large population and limited cultivated land like Pakistan.
Prof. Yang Wenyu was also inspired by PM Imran Khan’s recognition of their research work. “China and Pakistan are both facing the shortage of soybeans. I hope the research cooperation between China and Pakistan will contribute to plugging the gap in soybean supply and demand for both of us,” Prof. Yang Wenyu said to CEN.
In the future, focusing on high yield and high quality of intercropping crops, China-Pakistan cooperation in research, demonstration and promotion of variety selection, optimization of cultivation technology, plant protection and agricultural mechanization will be made in the Intercropping Research Center.
