LAHORE– Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) President Zarak
Khan has urged the government to adopt Eco-farming model of China for increasing
agricultural yields to avert the growing food crisis and to provide fresh fruits, vegetables at
this hour of crisis.
While introducing the Chinese Cultivation Model of "Eco-Farming" at the PCJCCI think-
tank session here on Friday, he emphasized to get benefit of Chinese friendship in the field
of Agriculture during this pandemic. Chinese cultivation model involved usage of hybrid
seeds, better water management, increased role of government for ensuring effective safety
and support mechanisms such as making a reservoir of food grain and also public-private
partnerships to overcome the future food crisis, he said.
China accounts for only 10 percent of arable land produces food for 20 percent of the
world's population and it ranks first in worldwide farm output. "It is because they have
devised different techniques to increase the yield of crops just by making use of nature, and
such farming is termed as, "Eco-Farming", he said and hoped that implementation of
Chinese model of farm mechanization practices in Pakistan would help overcome the
expected food crisis.
The PCJCCI President said that China was the largest producer of rice with per hectare
yield of 0.6 ton and it produces 1.2 ton per hectare rice, which is twice that of Pakistan.
Pakistan's sugarcane production is 53.4 ton per hectare whereas China obtains a yield of
66.7 ton per hectare sugarcane through its cultivation techniques, Therefore, Chinese
cultivation pattern is the best model to be implemented on the land of Pakistan to increase
agriculture yields, he asserted.
He said that Chinese Model of Eco-Farming ensures healthy farming and healthy food for
today and tomorrow by protecting soil, water and climate; promotes bio-diversity and does
not contaminate the environment with chemical inputs or genetic engineering.
PCJCCI Senior Vice President Moazzam Ghurki highlighted the environment friendly
techniques being used by China for effective farming. He quoted the example of increasing
yield of rice through methods such as Rice duck farming, in which ducks are raised on rice
paddies and feed on pests and weeds, which means the farmer doesn't have to use earth
and water-ravaging chemical pesticides and herbicides on their plants. He said that duck
droppings are also an excellent, natural fertilizer for rice plants. Similarly, growing two or
more crops in proximity helps reduce disease outbreaks, he added.
PCJCCI Secretary General said that 50 percent of the population is taking less calories
recognized for average human need. The current crisis, would worsen if the government
fails to come up with an informed policy and decisions. In this situation, the government
should allocate land to locals in association with Chinese to obtain farm productivity on the
same pattern as Chinese are doing, he suggested and urged to introduce corporate farming
trends to compensate rising inflation and high input prices in the field of Agriculture in the
country--PRESS RELEASE
