ISLAMABAD, Feb 09 (Wealth Pakistan): Chinese agricultural technologies are transforming Pakistan’s farming sector by increasing crop yields, reducing post-harvest losses, and creating new income opportunities for rural communities.
Talking to Wealth Pakistan, Zhou Xusheng, Country Director of Wuhan Qingfa Hesheng Agricultural Development Company, said Chinese hybrid seeds and modern machinery are helping farmers produce more food with fewer inputs.
Hybrid rice improves exports and farm productivity
Zhou said one of the earliest successes came through hybrid rice cultivation. He noted that Pakistan has moved from being the world’s seventh-largest rice exporter to fourth place and is now approaching third.
Since arriving in Pakistan in 2010, Zhou has overseen the expansion of hybrid rice adoption. According to him, the technology has increased average rice yields from 50–60 mounds per acre to 90–100 mounds. In some areas, farmers are achieving even higher output.
He said hybrid rice has strengthened Pakistan’s export capacity while generating employment across the seed supply chain, agrochemical marketing, cultivation, processing, and overseas sales.
Moreover, future cooperation will focus on improving grain quality. Chinese varieties fetch higher prices in international markets and can help Pakistani exporters access premium buyers.
Hybrid canola reduces oil imports
Alongside rice, Zhou highlighted edible oil as a major national challenge. Pakistan currently imports nearly 90 percent of its edible oil and spends about $4 billion annually.
He said that after nearly a decade of joint research, Pakistan registered its first hybrid canola variety in 2019. In 2025, the project was formally incorporated into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor framework.
Hybrid canola offers higher yields and better oil content. At the same time, it requires less fertilizer and fewer chemicals, which benefits both farmers and the environment.
Village-level processing boosts household incomes
Zhou explained that the project also promotes small and micro oil extraction units in rural areas. These units allow villages to process canola locally and supply nearby communities with affordable, high-quality oil.
Under this model, families grow crops and process them simultaneously. Women can operate extraction machines, sell oil, and use the high-protein by-product as livestock feed. As a result, households earn additional income and reduce dependence on middlemen.
Modern machinery cuts post-harvest losses
Post-harvest losses remain a key issue in Pakistan. Zhou said canola losses can reach 30–40 percent due to limited harvesting equipment.
Drawing on Chinese experience, he noted that specialized machinery has reduced losses to 5–10 percent in China. Pakistani farmers using similar equipment can therefore increase effective yields and profits.
He added that Chinese enterprises are keen to invest in modern harvesting technologies to expand business opportunities while helping farmers reduce waste.
Rising Chinese demand offers export potential
Zhou also pointed out that China’s demand for imported agricultural products is growing steadily. Pakistan’s climate and soil conditions make it well suited to supply crops such as grains and sesame if yields and quality improve.
He said shrinking farmland and rising consumption in China will create sustained demand for overseas farm products. This trend presents long-term export opportunities for Pakistani growers.
“If Pakistan increases yield and quality, its products will become competitive in this market,” Zhou said.
He added that agriculture remains central to Pakistan’s economic development. Deeper China-Pakistan cooperation in seeds, machinery, processing, and market access can help farmers achieve higher productivity and better livelihoods.