Pakistan eyes $500 Million Sorghum exports to China: TDAP stated as it conducted a seminar in Sahiwal.
Pakistan is actively seeking to capitalize on China’s $2.6 billion sorghum import market by reviving local cultivation of the drought-tolerant crop, aiming to unlock a $500 million export potential over the next ten years, officials shared during a seminar on Thursday.
Organized by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in Sahiwal, the event gathered agriculture experts, farmers, and policymakers to discuss revitalizing sorghum production. According to TDAP, sorghum cultivation has declined by 89% since 1994, falling from 438,200 hectares to only 46,697 hectares by 2023.
TDAP Agro Food Division Director-General Athar Hussain Khokhar emphasized the promising opportunity in regions like Thal and Cholistan, suggesting that boosting sorghum production could make it a significant export crop. He highlighted the sharp decline in US sorghum exports to China—down 81.8% in January—due to trade disputes, presenting a gap Pakistan could fill.
China annually imports over 9 million tonnes of sorghum for animal feed, liquor production, and biofuels. Ghulam Qadir, Pakistan’s Trade & Investment Counsellor in Beijing, noted that Beijing’s pivot away from US suppliers creates an opening for Pakistan.
Agricultural experts called for improvements such as hybrid seeds, mechanized farming, and robust extension services to increase yields from the current 0.8 tonnes per hectare to the global average of 3.26 tonnes. Dr. Qamar Shakil from the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute stressed that Pakistan should cater to China’s demand for high-starch, low-tannin sorghum.
Speakers at the seminar pointed out challenges including the absence of a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with China, poor post-harvest infrastructure, and limited availability of export-grade varieties. Recommendations included forming research partnerships with China, modernizing supply chains, and leveraging CPEC for logistics.
TDAP announced plans to promote Pakistan’s competitively priced sorghum—30–40% cheaper than rivals—at international trade expos. The authority projected that with targeted investment, sorghum could follow the trajectory of sesame seed exports and possibly reach $1 billion in annual earnings within five years.
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