Chinese Ministry of Agriculture to launch a study centre at MNSUA to curb water shortage in Pakistan

MULTAN: Under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Chinese Agriculture Ministry will set up an Evapotranspiration Research Centre at the Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA).

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Schezin University (China) and the MNSUA had been signed last week, said Professor Dr Shafqat Saeed, Dean Faculty of the Agriculture and Environmental Science, MNSUA.

A three-member delegation of the Schezin University visited the MNSUA and signed the MoU.

Dr Shafqat Saeed said the agriculture sector was facing a shortage of water, adding that water was saline in some areas in the country which was also affecting the agriculture productivity.

The new research centre would be functional in the next few months, Dr Shafqat Saeed said. He added that the Chinese agriculture ministry would issue funds for the centre.

A delegation of teachers would also visit the Schezin University in January and review researches to deal with water scarcity issues, he told. The centre would also focus on proper utilisation of barren and deserted land for agriculture purposes, Dr Shafqat Saeed said. He added that the centre would be a blessing for the country’s agriculture sector which would also help reduce expenses on irrigation besides improving agriculture productivity.