CPEC Agri Corridor: Cultivating Prosperity and Growth in Pakistan
As we bid farewell to 2022, the agricultural sector in Pakistan has witnessed an extraordinary transformation through the China-Pakistan agricultural collaboration, setting the stage for remarkable agricultural advancements across the nation. This revelation stems from a recent report published by Gwadar Pro.
Throughout the year 2022, the agricultural landscape in Pakistan experienced an impressive growth rate of 4.4%, surpassing both the targeted 3.5% and the previous year's 3.48% growth, as per the Economic Survey. This remarkable achievement owes its success to China's extensive support and expertise transfer under the "CPEC Green Corridor." These collaborative efforts encompassed various aspects, including intercropping techniques, high-yield seed cultivation, effective pest control, hybrid farming practices, corporate agricultural initiatives, innovative irrigation methods, agri-machinery training, research and development in agriculture, protocols for Pakistani agricultural exports to China, the adoption of digital farming technologies, and enhancement of agricultural labor skills.
P.c. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
In 2022, the deepening Sino-Pak agricultural ties resulted in a substantial increase in Pakistan's agricultural exports to China. From January to August 2022 alone, these exports reached an impressive $730 million, marking a substantial 28.59% year-on-year increase. Forecasts predict that Pakistan's agricultural exports to China will exceed the historic milestone of $1 billion in the coming year.
Building upon the success of the agricultural sector in 2022, the focus for the upcoming year under the CPEC Green Corridor will revolve around several key areas. These include expanding arable land, improving water resource management, enhancing market access for agricultural inputs (such as seeds, fertilizers, mechanization, credit, and water), upgrading infrastructure, including storage and cooling facilities, reducing post-harvest losses, increasing investments in research and development, strengthening the quality and compliance with international quarantine requirements, boosting diversification with a focus on minor yet high-value crops, and improving the effectiveness of agricultural markets.
Notably, the announcement of three new corridors under CPEC, particularly the China-Pakistan Green Corridor (CPGC), dedicated to agricultural environment and food security, underscores the significance of agricultural cooperation within CPEC. Additionally, the successful establishment of the Intercropping Research Center, a joint initiative of Sichuan Agricultural University (SAU) and the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) in 2021, yielded impressive results in the 2022 season.
Furthering this progress, June 2022 marked a significant milestone when the CPEC-Agriculture Cooperation Centre (ACC) was established at Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (AAUR). This center is poised to conduct policy research, support Chinese businesses venturing into the agricultural sector, and foster institutional collaboration.
Pakistan's pursuit of enhanced banana production through collaboration with China is also on the horizon. In July 2022, Tianjin Modern Vocational Technology College (TMVTC) in China and MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan (MNSUAM) in Pakistan signed an online agreement to initiate an agricultural machinery training program under the Luban Workshop. This initiative will promote scientific and technological exchanges, cooperation in agricultural machinery, germplasm resources, and environmental aspects.
In summary, the year 2022 marked a momentous chapter in Pakistan's agricultural sector, with the China-Pakistan partnership ushering in unprecedented growth and innovations. As we look to the future, this collaboration promises to further elevate Pakistan's agricultural prowess on the global stage.