Pakistan Seeks Cooperation with China to Develop Agricultural Sector, Enhance Food Security

With the agricultural sector as the backbone of Pakistan's economy, the country's officials and experts believe that the enhanced cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) can greatly help the country modernize the sector, ensure food security, and improve local people's livelihood.

Pakistan can seek help in improving production technology and product quality and expanding the sales market to increase exports to various countries, including China, one of the major destinations for the country's exports.

"With the formation of prudent trade policies and high value-added products in the agricultural sector, the country can develop a huge consumer market in China," said Muhammad Ansar, chairman of the agronomy department at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi.

The use of old cultivation and production methods, negligence on international market quality certification systems and quality control standards, and the least understanding of consumers' needs have been the reasons behind the less demand of Pakistan's products in the international market, according to Ansar. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said recently that the government has been seeking support from China to boost the country's agricultural sector to ensure sustainable development and prosperity.

"Pakistan and China have a long history of agricultural cooperation, and the country (Pakistan) has excelled in many areas due to enhanced bilateral agricultural research and development activities," Imran said, adding that China has not only established its agricultural sector on modern lines but also extended its help to countries including Pakistan under the Belt and Road Initiative of which the CPEC is a flagship project, to boost agricultural development.

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