March 28, 2012

Chinese hybrid seed variety to boost wheat output

Pakistan has planned to purchase China's hybrid wheat varieties, which would aid to lift its local wheat output.

Ahmed Jawad, Chief Executive Officer, Harvest Trading Monday (Mar 26) said two hybrid wheat varieties developed by the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, including Beijing Wheat No6 and No7, have been successfully grown in pilot areas in Pakistan, and are expected to increase local wheat production by 50%.

As country consumes about 22 million tonnes a year, but it wouldn't expected to surplus this year for export. Despite unnecessary delay in sowing and high fertiliser prices would badly hurt wheat production this year but the government has announced a certain comfort interims of support price of PKR26.25 (US$0.29) per kilogrammes, up 10.5% from last year's price of PKR23.75 (US$0.26) per kilogrammes, he said. He said the support price is available to all those who receive gunny bags from the government which will be started in second week of April.

According to an intergovernmental agreement, Pakistan may start importing and growing the two wheat varieties on a large scale, he said, adding currently, no import was made through official channel.

Jawad said that private parties might have imported the seed from China but it was not official yet. Pakistan was importing rice hybrid seed for last five years from China. Pakistan's yield of wheat is around 27 maund per acre, even though some progressive farmers get it increased to 42 maund per acre. But, the ratio of progressive farmers is very limited as we need proper farming to achieve, he said.

Up to 90% farmers get yield of 25-27 maund per acre. World average of wheat production is nearly 45 maund per acre, he said, adding the US leads the world wheat production with around 100 maund per acre. In fact, he said Beijing's hybrid wheat was identified by the municipal government as internationally competitive products several years ago, but it did not get a chance to be put into commercial use, until recently.

The Beijing National Modern Agricultural Science and Technology City, whose construction started in 2010, has conducted bold, innovative seed research with full support of China's Ministry of Science and Technology and Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission.