Pakistan to send 1,000 agricultural graduates to China, PM Shehbaz Sharif stated emphasizing the need to adopt cutting edge technology and learn new techniques for farming.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Monday a new initiative to send 1,000 agricultural graduates to China for advanced training in modern farming techniques.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of the Aeroponics Complex for Potato Seed Production at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), where the prime minister underscored agriculture’s crucial role in Pakistan’s economy, involving 65 percent of the population.
PM Shehbaz explained that the initiative aims to equip agricultural graduates with cutting-edge skills and expertise, enabling them to drive agricultural innovation and development in Pakistan.
Through this program, participants will undergo specialized training in China, focusing on modern farming methods, advanced agricultural technologies, and innovative cultivation techniques.
The goal is to empower these professionals with the necessary knowledge to address agricultural challenges, enhance productivity, and contribute to the sector’s sustainable growth.
The prime minister also acknowledged South Korea’s support in establishing the Aeroponics Complex, recognizing the country as a valuable economic partner and emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in strengthening Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
PM Shehbaz further stressed the need to improve per-acre crop yields, particularly for cotton and sugarcane, and to promote small and medium enterprises in rural areas to boost economic growth.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated the Agriculture Tubewell Solarization Project in Lahore, a scheme designed to encourage sustainable energy use in farming by offering financial subsidies for solar system installations.
Under this initiative, the Punjab government will provide financial assistance of five lac rupees for a 10-kilowatt solar system, seven and a half lac rupees for a 15-kilowatt system, and ten lac rupees for a 20-kilowatt system.
In the first phase, 8,000 tube wells across Punjab will be selected through a balloting system for conversion to solar energy, supporting the province’s shift toward renewable energy in agriculture.
