Sesame project targets 5,000-tonne exports

On August 11, a delegation from the Silk Road Biohealth Agriculture Industry Alliance of Northwest A&F University (NWAFU) visited the Biohealth Sesame Order Demonstration Farm in Sahiwal, Punjab. The farm operates under the China-Pakistan Biohealth Agriculture (BHA) Overseas Technology Demonstration Park.

Built jointly by China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), NWAFU, and Pakistan's Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, the project introduced high-quality Chinese sesame varieties and advanced production technologies. "Through experiments, we identified varieties suited to Pakistan and developed technical standards for bio-healthy sesame production," said project leader Professor Zhang Lixin.

Pakistani students trained at NWAFU, including Dr Ammar, now serve as core technical personnel. Harvested sesame undergoes initial processing at CMEC plants, with testing in a joint lab. Qualified products are exported to China for use in food, pharmaceuticals, and industry.

The project has set up 12 standardised farms covering 500 acres, working with over 120 farmers under a contract farming model. Last year's first contracted crop exported about 3,500 tonnes to China. By 2025, exports are expected to reach 5,000 tonnes, creating over 500 long-term local jobs.

The farm aims to expand to 50,000 acres, producing around 23,000 tonnes, over 5% of Pakistan's sesame area. Pakistan currently grows sesame on about 1 million acres, producing 350,000–450,000 tonnes annually, though weather causes fluctuations. Torrential rains last year cut output to 310,000 tonnes. Zhang noted that wider adoption of advanced technology could push yields in good years above 500,000 tonnes.

Local sesame varieties mostly come from the TS and TH series. Of 10 experimental varieties tested, four exceeded yields of 130 kg per mu (0.165 acres), with the highest at 230 kg. These results, from internal trials, require larger-scale testing. Rainfall, sunlight, and fertilisation all strongly affect yields, making seasonal adaptation and weather-based measures vital.

Future plans include online seminars, farm visits, and training programmes, covering flood-resistant varieties, special fertilisers, biopesticides, drone spraying, mechanised harvesting, and smart farm management.

"The bio-health industry chain model linking enterprises, universities, and farms will help bio-health agriculture continues to prosper and develop in Pakistan," Zhang said.