A new agricultural agreement between a Chinese research institute and a Pakistani food company will bring advanced seed varieties and farming technology to Pakistan.
Pakistan and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to transform tomato cultivation and processing in Pakistan completely.
The Beijing Jingwa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Center joined hands with the Pakistani food company, Iftekhar Ahmed Food & Beverages. This agreement introduces high quality tomato varieties specifically selected for industrial processing, such as making pastes and purees.
The deal was signed in Hangzhou, China, during the China Battery Energy Storage System and Agriculture B2B Investment Conference. Waheed Ahmed, Patron-in-Chief of Fruit and Vegetable Exporters of Pakistan, signed the agreement. He highlighted that the project will begin with a strict research and development phase in Sindh.
Testing and Selecting the Best Seeds
The partnership is starting with extensive testing before these tomatoes are given to local farmers:
- Experts will test six to seven different tomato varieties in Sindh.
- Chinese and Pakistani scientists will monitor the plants. They want to see how they handle local weather, soil, and diseases.
- Once the best performing variety is found, it will be officially registered as a certified seed in Pakistan.
Technology Transfer and Big Financial Gains
Beyond just seeds, the Beijing Jingwa Center will transfer modern farming tools and green technology to Pakistan. They will teach local teams how to handle year-round farming using controlled environments. This will keep tomato production stable and secure.
This project is a huge win for Pakistan’s economy. Currently, the country spends around $1 million every year just to import tomato paste. Growing these specialized industrial tomatoes locally will save that precious foreign exchange. Waheed Ahmed also mentioned that this joint venture could attract up to $7 million in new investments. It will also open doors for Pakistan to export value-added food products globally.
