ISLAMABAD – Recent inclusion of the agriculture sector in the long termplan of China Pakistan Economic Corridor provides Pakistan an opportunityto export more value added agriculture products to tap China’s growingdemand of food commodities.
According to a report launched by State Bank of Pakistan titled “State ofEconomy 2017-18” Pakistan`s agriculture sector would witness significantdevelopment under the CPEC.
Through the project, China would transfer its technology to Pakistan toincrease per acre yield of various crops and to add more value to theagriculture products.
Currently, in agriculture sector, out of China’s global food imports ofaround 99.6 billion dollars, Pakistan’s share is only around 0.4 billiondollars which makes only 0.37 percent.
According to the report, the Ministry of National Food Security andResearch, in its 2018 Food Security Policy, envisages the development ofnine agricultural development zones along the CPEC.
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By encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration, these zonescould serve as platforms to develop clusters and infrastructure to nurtureemerging rural businesses to produce commodities deemed exportable to China.
These commodities include cereals, dairy, eggs, meat, honey, tobacco,seafood and fruits, and others.
The report further added that in the crop sector, focus is emphasized onincreasing the use of modern machinery and synthetic fertilizers to enhanceyields, while food storage and processing zones would be constructed toreduce significant post-harvest losses.
