BEIJING: In a major move towards developing agricultural technology through international cooperation, four Pakistani universities including Quaid-i-Azam University, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Sindh Agriculture University and Ayub Agricultural Research Institute have joined the Silk Road Agricultural Education and Research Innovation Alliance at the 9th Silk Road Agricultural Education and Research Cooperation Forum held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from July 9-12.
This cooperation aims to promote cooperation between leading institutions in China and Pakistan, focusing on the exchange and joint development of new food crops, vegetable varieties and medicinal crops. Abdul Ghaffar Shar, a postdoctoral researcher at Northwest A&F University in China, the founding institution of the alliance, shared the findings with China Economic Net.
He noted that last year, the alliance provided Pakistani universities with varieties of wheat and vegetables such as cabbage, carrots and tomatoes for further research in their demonstration parks.
In addition, new varieties of flax will be exchanged later this month during a mutual visit. To date, researchers involved in this agricultural cooperation program have selected 19 stress-tolerant wheat strains and identified a new wheat variety suitable for wider cultivation in Pakistan.
This new variety is expected to improve wheat production and physiological resistance to salt stress by 27%, reduce costs by 13% and increase farmers’ income by approximately 25%. Innovations such as nano-coal, new nutrient solutions and bio-organic fertilizers have also been introduced to increase crop quality and production.
“This year, model farms for contract sesame farms have been established at various locations across Pakistan and are expanding significantly, greatly increasing Pakistan’s export potential,” Abdul Ghaffar Shar added. Launched in 2016, the agricultural alliance has now welcomed 14 new members from China, Nepal, Pakistan and Uzbekistan during this year’s conference. With more than 60 institutions from 13 countries participating, the alliance’s membership has grown to 120 institutions from 19 countries, paving the way for Pakistani universities and research institutions to form global partnerships.
