CPEC second phase to boost transfer of technology in agriculture sector

ISLAMABAD: Technological advancement is imperative in order to increase per acre cotton yield in the country, Minister for National Food Sec­urity and Research Syed Fakhar Imam said on Saturday.

Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), Imam said that his ministry was working on transfer of Chinese seed technology for enhancing crop yield, besides securing funds to reduce cost to make cotton production a profitable business.

June 29: Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam underlined that a state of the art research center would be established to promote organic farming in the country that would provide chemical free food to the people besides a number of other benefits including clean environment and better land fertility.

Participating in the budget debate, he said agro-economic development depends on structural reforms and agriculture sector development can only be achieved by revamping farm technology, reorienting research, transfer of technology and promoting organic farming.

He said, “Organic farming had been made on 172-million-acre land across the world and this type of farming would also be helpful for the environment”.

“We have to take steps for the encouraging and attracting people to start organic farming in the country” he added. Fakhar Imam also expressed the commitment to develop the agriculture sector on scientific lines in order to enhance yield of major crops including wheat, cotton and rice.

He said that China has agreed to transfer of technology in the agriculture sector under the second phase of the China-Economic-Pakistan-Corridor.

He said that the government has announced billions of rupees to fight locust outbreak that threatens food security in the country. He said that Pakistan army has established center to deal with locust in the country.