Pakistan, China partner to deepen cooperation in cotton research as it aims to boost technological advancements in industry.
On March 25 in Anyang, Henan, China, the Institute of Cotton Research of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICR-CAAS) and Pakistan’s Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The agreement aims to foster extensive collaboration in cotton germplasm development, pest-resistant breeding, and cultivation technologies.
As per the agreement, both institutions will work together on collecting and identifying cotton germplasm, improving varieties for pest resistance, conducting joint breeding programs and field tests in both countries, and applying advanced farming practices.
The collaboration also seeks to enhance talent exchange and training opportunities, furthering the creation of a China-Pakistan cotton technology partnership.
During the visit, the Pakistani delegation participated in detailed academic discussions with ICR researchers and visited major facilities like the National Key Laboratory for Cotton Bio-Breeding.
The delegation gained insights into China’s innovations in insect-resistant gene editing and germplasm development. Dr. Abid Mahmood, Director General of Agriculture (Research), Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, praised ICR’s research capabilities and showed keen interest in adopting Chinese technologies to modernize Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
ICR-CAAS stands as China’s sole national-level institute dedicated to cotton research. The institute considers this partnership a significant Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project, aimed at extending China’s agricultural innovations globally and supporting sustainable growth in the international cotton industry.
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