Federal Food Safety Minister Fakhar Imam and Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing agreed on Thursday to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the agriculture and livestock sector, as the Chinese envoy expressed interest in mutual cooperation in fisheries in Gwadar.
According to a press release released after the meeting, Imam Jing told both countries to rethink the contours of their agricultural sector. "Technical experts from both sides must communicate directly with each other to develop specific agricultural research projects," he said.
The federal minister said Pakistan is facing the problem of low yields.
"So there should be an exchange of 'germplasm' as a collaborative area through which we can develop high yield varieties for cotton, fruit, hybrid rice and wheat from our research centers."
Germplasms are living genetic resources such as seeds or tissues obtained for animal and plant breeding, conservation and other research purposes.
Read Also: Japan Aid Pakistan to combat Covid-19
According to Imam, China is one of the largest markets in the world for the export of meat and meat products, but Pakistan has no access to the Chinese market due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). FMD is an infectious and deadly viral disease that affects the claws.
The minister said that Baluchistan is excellent in the production of organic cotton. It was decided that China would help install a "crop protection system" to increase fruit exports. Plant health refers to plant health, especially with regard to the requirements of international trade
It has also been decided that China will help build professional and technical agricultural facilities to train farmers and other people. The minister indicates that the Plant Breeding Act and the Plant Seed Act will be a window for branding our products.
The Chinese ambassador also expressed an interest in mutual cooperation in fishing in Gawadar.
Earlier, Imran, as chair of a pipeline grant meeting, said pipeline records and land ownership should be maintained. "In consultation with the provincial authorities, a mechanism should be developed to address farmers' problems as a priority," he said.
