Chinese expert outlines model for enhancing yield

Says this system will provide maximum yield from minimum land

LAHORE: The Chinese nutrient management model could enable Pakistan to achieve optimum yield out of a comparatively lower agricultural land, said Dr Yuan Yongbing, Vice President of the Qingdao Agricultural University.

He made the suggestion while leading a delegation in a meeting with Wang Zihai, President of the Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI), and Moazzam Ghurki, Vice President, at the chamber premises on Monday.



The delegates were of the view that Pakistan being an agricultural economy with vast arable land was still unable to utilise its maximum potential, particularly due to the lack of modern infrastructure, conventional cultivation methods and low-quality chemicals and fertilisers that badly affected the yield.

Yuan pointed out that China had only 10% arable land and had the challenge to feed 20% of the world’s population. “With the help of nutrient management system devised by our agricultural research experts, we are able to get higher yields from minimum land,” he said.



He also talked about the utilisation of non-hazardous, eco-friendly and pesticide-free microbial compound fertilisers that were effectively used in China to enhance crop yields. Similar microbial fertilisers should be introduced in Pakistan to get maximum yield from the fields, he suggested.

He said China was ready to collaborate with Pakistan for providing all modern agricultural facilities including equipment, experts and researchers.

In his presentation, PCJCCI Vice President Moazzam Ghurki informed the delegation that Pakistan’s agricultural sector contributed about 24% of gross domestic product and employed 47% of the labour force.



“Most sub-sectors of agriculture have either remained static or have declined over the last three decades, with the exception of livestock. There is a considerable scope for improvement in the production and processing of primary output,” he said.

Moazzam stressed that the government had already underlined the need for revitalising the agricultural sector by improving crop productivity and ensuring systematic application of advanced technology to enhance profitability and competitiveness.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2017.

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