ISLAMABAD: Pakistan stands to gain significantly from China’s development of salt-tolerant hybrid wheat varieties, since it would increase the nation’s supply of this vital commodity.
The way to keep Pakistan from experiencing a food shortfall is to adopt hybrid wheat. Pakistan’s primary food is wheat, and the nation’s economy greatly depends on its supply. But wheat production has been dropping recently, which may soon cause food insecurity, according to Dr. Sikandar Khan, a principle scientific officer of the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC).
China, a leader in agricultural innovation, has created hybrid wheat cultivars that are more nutritious, yield more, more resilient to environmental challenges. Global attention has been drawn to these discoveries, he added, especially from nations dealing with comparable difficulties in maintaining and growing their agricultural output.
Pakistan has shown a strong interest in working with China to incorporate these technology into its agricultural operations, realizing the potential advantages of such breakthroughs. The partnership seeks to enhance the agricultural sector as a whole and increase wheat production as well, which will support Pakistan’s economic growth and food security, he noted.
“China and Pakistan must work together to select and breed hybrid wheat varieties that are suitable for the local environment,” stated Sikandar.
The application of cutting-edge breeding techniques and genetic engineering, which produces crops with enhanced resistance to illnesses and pests, higher tolerance to unfavorable weather conditions, and increased nutrient content, is one of the fundamental factors contributing to China’s success with hybrid wheat. Because of these qualities, hybrid wheat cultivars are both high-yielding and environmentally friendly, supporting worldwide efforts to promote sustainable agriculture.
Chinese hybrid wheat demonstration fields, which span a vast area of roughly 3,000–5,000 hectares, have shown to be quite successful in important wheat-producing regions of Pakistan, according to WealthPk research.
Professor Zahid Akram of Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, noted during the 2023 International Symposium of the Silk Road Wheat Innovation Alliance held in China that nearly 40% of Pakistan’s agricultural land is used for wheat cultivation, employing about 80% of the country’s farming community.
In addition to being the vice-chairman of the Silk Road Wheat Innovation Alliance’s first council, Akram stated his optimism about China and Pakistan working together to increase wheat output. He was eager to interact with the Silk Road Wheat Innovation Alliance’s member countries.
