STAFF REPORT KHI: Pakistan is mulling importing hybrid wheat varieties from China to in order to improve its local yield.
“Two hybrid wheat varieties developed by the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, including Beijing Wheat No6 and No7, have been successfully grown in pilot areas in Pakistan, and are expected to increase local wheat production by 50 per cent,” said President of Farmers Association of Pakistan, Dr Tariq Bucha.
He said that under an agreement, Pakistan may start importing and growing the two wheat varieties on a large scale.
Bucha said that private parties might have imported the seed from China, however, it is not yet done officially.
It is to be mentioned here that Pakistans wheat yield is around 27 maunds per acre, even though some progressive farmers get it increased to 42 maunds per acre. But, the ratio of progressive farmers is very limited, he said.
Up to 90 per cent farmers get yield of 25 to 27 maund per acre while the world average wheat production is nearly 45 maunds per acre. The US leads the world wheat production with around 100 maunds per acre.
General Secretary Sindh Abadgar Board Syed Mehmood Nawaz Shah told the media that China is keen to provide wheat and cotton seed to Pakistan but officially no import was made through official channels.