agriculture Archives

Pakistan all set to enter China’s $15bln meat market: Opportunity for CPECB Members

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is all set to venture into the $12 to 15 billion China’s meat market under the two agreements recently signed with the neighbouring country, the food minister said on Wednesday.

The two countries signed two agreements on agricultural cooperation and foot and mouth disease (FMD) free zone during a three days visit (26 to 28 May) of Chinese president to Pakistan.

Minister for National Food Security and Research Mehboob Sultan said the country would move from stage two to stage three towards the control and eradication of FMD by developing FMD free zones in Pakistan.

“This would also open big markets of China and Indonesia for Pakistan meat,” Sultan told media.

China’s annual meat requirement is worth $12 to 15 billion. Currently, meat from Pakistan is exported to Gulf countries, Vietnam and Malaysia.

“The government is focusing on expanding the Pakistan’s meat market and this five years agreement with China will help us achieve the desired results not only in the meat market but in agriculture sector and will be mutually beneficial,” the food minister added.

The purpose of China-Pakistan’s agreement is the establishment of FMD free zone where vaccination would be practiced.

The FMD free zone will be constructed within the territory of Pakistan according to the agreed common requirements of the parties, and the Chinese side would provide technical assistance and support.

Currently, China is the 4th biggest export market of Pakistan. Agriculture is a vital industry in China, employing over 300 million farmers. Despite accounting for only 10 percent of arable land worldwide, it

produces food for 20 percent of the world’s population. Pakistani government is also expecting to get an opportunity to cooperate with China in the field of agriculture at the platform provided by Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

China is further likely to lift three years long ban on import of Pakistani rapeseed meal into China once a protocol proposed by the Chinese government would be signed.

The framework agreement on agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and China would be executed and implemented through the ministry of national food security and research of Pakistan and ministry of agricultural and rural affairs of China.

The agreement holds an important position in the backdrop of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor framework and promotes cooperation in the areas of mutual interest in the field of agriculture.

The goals set in the agricultural framework agreement would be achieved in next five years and would cover extension services of agricultural technology and inputs, remote sensing and geographical information system and food processing and pre-and-post-harvest handling.

The agreement also covers storage of agricultural produce, genetic resources of crops, livestock and poultry, selection and breeding of new breeds of animals and new varieties of plants, feed fisheries and aquaculture, research and development of new high-yield varieties, precision agriculture and pest and disease control.

Agriculture Govt introduces policy to boost agriculture sector under CPEC

ISLAMABAD: Agriculture , The ministry of national food security and research has evolved comprehensive policy measures to work for the development of agriculture sector under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to boost exports of agricultural products, enhance per acre yield of major crops, and produce high-tech value added products of international standards.

The measures are part of first ever “National Food Security Policy” announced by the ministry last week.

Under the policy measures, the ministry will prepare feasibility reports of trad-able commodities for each sub-zone along the corridor, and will do pilot testing of rural businesses for the identified commodities and coordination for development of business zones along the corridor.

The government will also arrange a series of training programs aimed at capacity building of rural entrepreneurs and agricultural service providers.

Similarly, innovations for quality production, post harvest handling and processing will be introduced and investment portfolios will also be developed for public private partnerships to promote rural businesses.

Business models will be developed to promote value-added agriculture all along CPEC route whereas special focus would be given on modern production and market infrastructure development for grain and fruit crops, fisheries, livestock and livestock products.

China is second largest importer in the world with overall imports of $1966 billion including food imports worth of over $100 billion. Pakistan’s share in Chinese imports is only $2.93 billion while in food imports, the Pakistani share is only around 1 percent. China-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) has provided an opportunity to increase trade on the principles of complementary advantages and mutual benefits.

According to official sources, the key areas for agricultural economic and technical cooperation between China and Pakistan will be determined by fully considering the comparative advantage and cooperation needs.

There will be an opportunity to produce high-tech value added agricultural produces at international standards for different potential markets.

The commodities that can be potentially exported to China include cereals, dairy eggs, honey, live animals, tobacco, meat, sea more than 40 commodities identified across the corridor for promoting rural businesses through developing entrepreneurship, processing zones, skilled manpower and modern market infrastructure.

The corridor crosses through the nine agro-ecologies. On the basis of these agro-ecologies, the corridor is divided into 9 sections, each of which possesses distinct opportunities for establishing zones along CPEC in collaboration with Chinese counterparts can help to achieve food sovereignty, benefiting farmers and rural communities, smarter food production and yields, biodiversity conservation, sustainable soil health and cleaner water, ecological pest management, and resilient food systems, the sources added.

Earlier announcing the first ever National Food Security Policy here, Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan said the policy envisages to achieve its objectives through alleviation of poverty, promotion of sustainable food production systems-by achieving an average growth rate of 4% per annum, and making agriculture more productive, profitable, climate resilient, and competitive.

“Food availability will be ensured through an increase in production of food items,” the Minister said while addressing a press conference here.

He said a national food security council is being set up under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister with the chief ministers and representatives from relevant government agencies to review the state of food security and take appropriate policy measures.

“The comprehensive strategy and action plan for addressing the food security issues in collaboration with national and international partners are also being deliberated at the ministry of national food security and research”, he added.

Agriculture sector most important in CPEC’s LTP: ministry

ISLAMABAD: Agriculture is very important pillar of Long Term Plan (LTP) of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the government is giving it priority aiming at modern, systematic, standardized and intensified construction of the agricultural industry.

The governments of the two countries have agreed to constitute a group to explore and ensure implementation of different initiative in agri sector, an official in Ministry of Planning Development and Reforms told APP here on Thursday.

He said China and Pakistan had agreed to give full play to their own comparative advantages to strengthen agricultural infrastructure construction within the CPEC coverage and played their own roles in agricultural personnel training, technical exchanges and cooperation.

It has already been decided to cooperate in key construction areas such as biological breeding, production, processing, storage and transportation, infrastructure construction, disease prevention and control, water resources utilization, conservation and production, land development and remediation, ICT-enabled agriculture and marketing of agricultural products to promote the systematic, large-scale, standardized and intensified construction of the agricultural industry.

“China and Pakistan have an agreement to promote the transition from traditional agriculture to modern agriculture in the regions along the CPEC to effectively boost the development of local agricultural economy and help local people get rid of poverty and become better off, strengthen the up-gradation of agricultural infrastructure, promote the construction of water saving modern agricultural zones, and increase the development and remediation of medium and low-yielding land to achieve efficient use of resources,” the official added.

Under CPEC, efforts are being made to strengthen drip irrigation technology for water

efficiency, strengthen cooperation in the fields such as crop farming, livestock breeding, forestry and food growing, and aquatic and fishery, with the highlight on technical exchange and cooperation in the fields of development of comprehensive agricultural production capacity, construction of farmland water conservancy facility and agricultural products circulation facility.

The CPEC Agri sector is also focusing on improving post-harvest handling, storage and transportation of agricultural products and innovates in marketing and sales models, Improve water resources operation and management, strengthen development of pastoral areas and desert, and promote application of remote sensing technology.

The key cooperation areas focus on strengthening production of agriculture inputs particularly pesticides, fertilizer, machinery and support services including agriculture education and research, collaboration in forestry, horticulture, fisheries and livestock medicines and vaccines as well as strengthening production of horticulture products