Pakistan is sending 300 agricultural graduates to China for specialised training in modern farming techniques, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to reviving and modernising the country’s agricultural sector, Sharif termed China as the country’s most “sincere friend”, at a ceremony in Islamabad, and emphasised his government’s focus on capacity building.
The 300 students are part of over 1,000 graduates who would be sent to China to study farming, and modernise the country’s failing agriculture sector.
Calling the modernisation of agriculture as essential for achieving sustainable economic growth, and accelerating national development, Sharif said “We must focus on meaningful farming practices, digitalised crop management, and the development of climate-resilient seeds,” according to ARY News.
He added that strengthening the agricultural sector would help ensure food security in the country, boost exports, and improve livelihoods for millions of farmers.
Recalling his last visit to China, Sharif said when he visited the Chinese universities, he was much inspired by the research work in various fields of the agriculture sector. “I decided then to send 1,000 young Pakistani agriculture graduates to benefit from this great experience,” he added.
The 300 selected graduates would spend three months in China, following which another 400 will be sent for a sixth-month training course. The final phase will see another 300 graduates going to China for a three-month training programme.
He advised the graduates to work hard during their training in China and bring the modern techniques and experiences to boost per acre yield of crops, especially cotton and other cash crops.
The Pakistan PM said that the government was planning to provide subsidised loans to the farmers to start their entrepreneurship aimed at promoting value addition of various fruits and vegetables.
Despite being primarily an agriculture based economy, Pakistan’s farming sector has suffered greatly over the past years due to outdated farming techniques, lack of modernisation, climate change, water scarcity, political corruption, low productivity, and lack of funds.
