Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Jiangsu Mingtian Seeds Science Technology Co. Ltd (JMSSTCL) and Four Brothers Group of Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) here at the PARC headquarters for development of agriculture sector in the country.
Under the MoU, Seeds Science Technology Company Limited (JMSSTCL) will help establish a new joint venture company in the private sector to pursue their objectives. Pakistan’s Companies ACT 1948 and the related laws of China would govern the company. The Chinese company will coordinate in the efforts to promote the development of Bt. Hybrid cottonseeds, hybrid rice seeds, hybrid corn seeds, rapeseeds in Pakistan under existing rules and procedures.
While explaining the objectives of the MOU, PARC Chairman Dr Zafar Altaf said China would provide seeds and related planting technology through trial models to find the right varieties of cotton, rice, corn and rapeseeds for growing so as to achieve maximum productivity. Under the MOU Hybrid/varieties of cotton, rice, corn and rapeseeds for different cropping areas and farming systems in Pakistan would be developed, he said.
Dr Zafar said that M/s JMSSTCL would provide germ-plasm for production of high yielding seeds of crops and would extend assistance in transferring germ plasm of Bt and coloured cotton. He further said JMSSTCL would facilitate in training of farmers and providing agronomic knowledge and share its field experiences for growing Bt. Cotton, rice, corn and rapeseeds in Pakistan.
Dr Zafar said that JMSSTCL would also provide material of their varieties/hybrids for testing under Pakistan’s agro-ecological conditions to determine their productive potential in Pakistan.
The MOU being the basis of the joint venture may be modified or amended by mutual consent of both parties in writing. The MOU shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of Pakistan and China.
He said President Asif Ali Zardari visited China on a special invitation to study the Chinese model of power generation and development in agriculture sector. “The president identified possible areas of cooperation between Pakistan and China in hybrid seeds, modern agriculture technologies, water management, high efficiency irrigation and water pumping through solar technology,” he said.
Dr Zafar Altaf, who was accompanying the president, signed agreements in his presence relating to agriculture sector. During the visit Pakistan and China signed four memorandums of understandings (MoUs) for cooperation in the field of agriculture. One of the MoUs between the government of Sindh and Hubei Seed Group aims at joint development of rice hybrid seed and its commercial production in Pakistan.
According to the MOU, the joint breeding programme between the government of Sindh and Hubei Seeds Group will be launched with the help of germ plasm technology transfer to achieve maximum productivity of hybrid rice. Another MoU between PARC and Hubei Research Group focuses on establishment of joint breeding in Pakistan. The MoU says that the two sides will work for development and transfer of germ plasm technology and oilseeds, which will yield high production. Under the MoU, Pakistani scientists will also be trained in breeding agronomy and oilseed production.
