ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) told the Parliamentary Committee on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that the PARC’s aim is to change Pakistan from cotton importing country to cotton exporting country, and save foreign exchange of $1.5 billion.

The 29th meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was held in the National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Sher Ali Arbab.

The committee was briefed by secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, and chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) about the projects related to the agriculture sector.

The chairman PARC, while sharing 10 years development targets under the CPEC, briefed the Committee that the PARC’s aim is to change Pakistan from cotton importing country to cotton exporting country, and save foreign exchange of $1.5 billion.

Besides renovation of existing orchards, introduction of new varieties, reducing post-harvest losses, improving value chain and development of rural industries are major proposed interventions.

The Committee also paid visit to the exhibition at the National Agriculture Research Centre, where a comprehensive briefing was given to the Committee by the concerned regarding Agro-tech Company, aquaculture, and fisheries programme, Honeybee Research Institute, alternative energy use in agriculture, and vegetable and fruit crops cultivation processes.

The chairman remarked that historically, agriculture has been the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and a potential source of employment for the people of Pakistan.

We need to strengthen this diminishing sector under the CPEC framework.

It is therefore imperative that Pakistan need not to rely on China for technological transfer rather boost its capacity, and enhance the areas of research to encourage indigenous technological innovations, and modernise its agriculture sector.

The Committee observed that the research which is being generated by the PARC to enhance agricultural production needs to be collaborated with the Ministry of Commerce and other concerned to check economic viability of the agricultural commodities, so that Pakistan’s vast agriculture potential could be utilised in enhancing agricultural exports.

Moreover, it was noted that China imports meat worth $48 billion from other countries. Taking Pakistan’s huge potential in livestock and other food processing items into account, there is an exigency of meeting international food standards and initiate negotiations with China to remove anomalies and enhance Pakistan’s exports in these areas.

This is how Pakistan’s engagement with China can be made more prolific and constructive under the CPEC framework.

The Committee remarked that farmers are the major stakeholders of the agriculture sector.

It is concerning that seeds of various crops are not being provided to farmers in time. Bottlenecks in this regard need to be removed to ensure fair and timely distribution of crops seeds to the farmers, so that by resolving farmers’ issues agricultural productivity could be enhanced and agriculture sector could be made more beneficial for these important stakeholders.

In the light of these issues, the chairman remarked that selected group of farmers from all provinces and regions would be invited to convey their issues to the PARC, so that their problems could be resolved and recommended to the members to send the list of issues, which they believe are important to be addressed, so that the Committee may take up those issues with the PARC and resolve them accordingly.

The Committee further added that vast potential of agriculture sector, if exploited prudently and effectively will vehemently alter the socio-economic landscape of our country, bring lasting economic benefits, and strengthen the process of industrialisation under the CPEC framework.

Therefore, more focused and integrated efforts are required to revive the agriculture sector, and further utilise its potential for ensuring inclusive economic growth and development.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021