Entrusted by China National Agency for International Development Cooperation (CIDCA), at the invitation of Liaqat Ali Shah, Project Director of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CEPC) of the Ministry of Planning and Development of Pakistan, a five-member delegation went to Pakistan for technical research and on-site inspection and exchange from November 30 to December 21, 2019. The experts delegation consists of associate professor Liu Hao from FIRI and other four experts from the Oil Crop Research Institute, the Institute of Cotton Research , the Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization and Beijing Capitender Construction Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd. They focus on the feasibility study task of the Pakistani agricultural equipment and materials project commissioned by CICDA and assisted the CICDA to determine relevant specific project plans under the China-Pakistan Agricultural Cooperation Action Plan, including the preparation of agricultural technology joint laboratories and demonstration stations and Carry out agricultural efficient water-saving irrigation demonstration projects, etc., to determine the aid list and complete the project implementation proposal, and strengthen the strategic cooperative relationship between China and Pakistan in agriculture.
The Chinese delegation was highly valued by Pakistan. From December 1st to 5th, the delegation visited Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning and Development, Economic Development Administration(EDA), Ministry of National Food Security & Research, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) and other departments. The delegation talk with the main leaders of each department, relevant experts and researchers and took field trips on Pakistan’s climate conditions, soil conditions, water resources, cultivation techniques, agricultural mechanization, farmland irrigation techniques and industrial promotion. Through exchanges and on-site inspections, learning about Pakistan’s agricultural production and demand for agricultural equipment.
From Dec 6 to Dec 16, with the arrangement of the Ministry of Planning and Development of Pakistan, the delegation visited Peshawar in Cape Province, Quetta in Balochistan Province, Lahore and Faisalabad in Punjab Province, Karachi and Hyderabad in the Sindh Province, they had discussions and exchanges with the officials of the local agricultural authorities and the main leaders of agricultural universities and colleges. They visited the laboratories and farms of local agricultural colleges and universities, and learned about the agricultural technology, agricultural and rural development, current status of farmland irrigation and major problems in different provinces. It is understood that Pakistan has good natural conditions for the development of agriculture, with a large area of arable land and idle land, where fertile soil , sufficient sunshine, and moderate temperature are suitable for crop growth. Pakistan has good agricultural development prospects and development potential, and a huge market space. However, due to the poor infrastructure of the irrigation system and the serious waste of water resources, the agricultural irrigation water supply is insufficient. At the same time, the weak field construction foundation, the extensive production management, and the low mechanization level lead to the great gap between crop yield in Pakistan and China, India and other countries with similar condition.