Pakistan research agency and Chinese company sign MOU on agriculture
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Jiangsu Mingtian Seeds Science Technology and Four Brothers Group of Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for agriculture development.
While explaining the objectives of the MOU, PARC Chairman Dr Zafar Altaf said China would provide seeds and related planting technology through trial models to find the right varieties of cotton, rice, corn and rapeseeds for growing so as to achieve maximum productivity. Under the MOU hybrid/varieties of cotton, rice, corn and rapeseeds for different cropping areas and farming systems in Pakistan would be developed, he said.
Dr Zafar said that JMSSTCL would provide germ-plasm for production of high yielding seeds of crops and would extend assistance in transferring germ plasm of Bt and coloured cotton. He further said JMSSTCL would facilitate in training of farmers and providing agronomic knowledge and share its field experiences for growing Bt. Cotton, rice, corn and rapeseeds in Pakistan.
Dr Zafar said that JMSSTCL would also provide material of their varieties/hybrids for testing under Pakistan's agro-ecological conditions to determine their productive potential in Pakistan.
He said President Asif Ali Zardari visited China on a special invitation to study the Chinese model of power generation and development in agriculture sector. ''The president identified possible areas of cooperation between Pakistan and China in hybrid seeds, modern agriculture technologies, water management, high efficiency irrigation and water pumping through solar technology,'' he said.
Dr Zafar Altaf, who was accompanying the president, signed agreements in his presence relating to agriculture sector. During the visit Pakistan and China signed four MOUs for cooperation in the field of agriculture.
