Islamabad, Nov 27: Global Agri-Tech Firm Focuses on Enhancing China-Pakistan Agricultural Cooperation Model at 2024 CISCE. At the ongoing 2024 China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), an endless stream of visitors were gushing about the stunning selection of agricultural products, including fragrant sesame seeds, full-bodied peppers, and plump rice grains.
“From premium agricultural inputs and high-quality seeds to the Agriculture Value Chain (AVC) comprehensive business, Syngenta Group is committed to building a win-win framework between China and Pakistan. This will not only help local farmers increase their income and open up new sales channels, but also enhance Chinese consumers’ dining experiences and diversify China’s import sources for cash crops and oilseeds,” a Syngenta Group China staff member told China Economic Net.
“The AVC model has provided farmers in Pakistan with tangible advantages by providing growers with inputs and production services, bartering with entities in core producing areas in exchange for key agricultural products, connecting China’s agricultural product market demand, and opening up the global upstream and downstream chains.”
In the last five years, the amount of sesame grown in Pakistan has tripled. Since almost one-third of Pakistan’s sesame exports go to China, AVC seeks to connect Syngenta’s quality Pakistani growers with global value chain partners, particularly in China.
The first Centrigo Flagship Center of Syngenta in Asia opened its doors in May 2023 at Okara, Punjab, catering to around 500 farmers who cultivate potatoes, corn, rice, vegetables, and sesame on more than 10,000 acres. They all receive high-quality agronomic inputs, such as seeds, fertilizer, crop protection, and services like farm mechanization and drone spraying.
“I own twenty acres of sesame.” My yields increased by 10% when I used Centrigo-provided pesticides sprayed by drones. I was paid 30% more than the usual market price because the exported sesame was of higher quality. One grower of Centrigo, Mian Bashir Ahmad, stated. Pakistani chilies have become a popular agricultural product among Chinese customers, in addition to the gradually progressing sesame project.
Syngenta is looking at joint ventures with Chinese businesses for possible contract farming of chilies in Pakistan. In order to improve the robustness of the agricultural supply and value chain, the effort seeks to create cultivars that are suited to Chinese preferences. Pointing to the Pakistani dried chilies on the booth, the crew introduced themselves.
“We are committed to advancing the interests of regional farmers and advancing the modernization of the global agricultural supply chain throughout this process.”
