ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China to work together to conduct joint awareness programme on adoption of Hybrid Rice for productivity enhancement, profitability and extra surpluses for increasing exports.

The revolutionary rice seed was recently developed by the Chinese researchers. The new rice variety would help Pakistani farmers to significantly increase per acre yield and hence the country would be able to export more rice to other countries, said a press release.

A travelling seminar has been arranged by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and China Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Co Ltd. China to travel in all the four ecological zones of the country in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan to understand exact Hybrid Seed requirements of Pakistan for different regions and showcase the Hybrid Rice varieties in addition to capacity building of the Pakistani experts from all over Pakistan. High level China team will be part of this travelling seminar.

Ch Nasir Iqbal Bosal, Special Assistant to Prime Minister of Pakistan on National Food Security inaugurated the opening session of this month-long activity at National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) Islamabad. Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest highlighted the farmers friendly initiatives of the government and appreciated Chinese support to improve rice productivity in Pakistan.

Dr Yusuf Zafar, Chairman PARC stated on the occasion that Chinese companies can team up with their Pakistani counterparts to develop agriculture sector by introducing new and innovative technologies for the food security of the two countries and Pakistan being agriculture country, Chinese companies could join Pakistani entities to develop the agriculture research and development sector for our common food security.

Dr Wang, Commercial Counsellor China Embassy showed his full support and commitment for the betterment of Agriculture Sector in Pakistan. Zhou Dan, Vice President, Yuan Longping High-Tech Agricultural Co Ltd China, Dr Anjum Ali Member Plant Sciences, PARC and Dr Muhammad Azeem DG NARC also spoke on the occasion.—PR