ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (ABC): A leading Chinese seed company has partnered with universities, research institutes and agribusinesses to modernize Pakistan agriculture by upgrading skills and introducing advanced cultivation techniques.
Zhou Xusheng, Country Director of Wuhan Qingfa Hesheng Seed Company Ltd, told Wealth Pakistan that farmer education remains central to the company’s strategy. He said the firm is building long-term research capacity in Pakistan to address climate stress and rising food demand.
He said seed innovation must go hand in hand with farmer training. Providing quality seed alone is not enough. Farmers must also learn how to use it properly to improve yields and reduce risks.
The company runs both online and in-person programs to train technicians and partner teams. These programs focus on cultivation practices, variety characteristics and climate risk management. Zhou said knowledge transfer plays a key role in sustainable growth.
“In China, we believe it is not enough to give people fish. The most important thing is to teach them how to catch fish,” he said.
Each year, Wuhan Qingfa Hesheng Seed Company holds more than 100 field training sessions for Pakistani farmers. Zhou said the company follows a clear approach: study in China and utilize in Pakistan.
Under China-Pakistan collaboration, 1,000 Pakistani agriculture graduates have completed three months of training in China. Wuhan Qingfa Hesheng Seed Company and Huazhong Agricultural University co-hosted the program. They designed the curriculum around Pakistan’s seed technology needs.
Zhou said the program followed consultations with Chinese authorities and Pakistan’s leadership. After that, students were invited to train in his home city. In addition to classroom instruction, participants received hands-on exposure at China’s National Agricultural Park and National Agricultural High Technology Zone.
The trainees also visited fertilizer, agrochemical, seed, horticulture and food processing companies. They observed how Chinese enterprises apply modern agricultural technologies across the full production chain.
Zhou said students responded positively to the initiative. After returning home, they will rejoin field programs in Pakistan and apply their training in local conditions.
Women’s empowerment is also part of the company’s strategy. The firm plans to work with local governments to increase women’s participation in agriculture. It aims to support family-based processing initiatives that allow women to earn income while improving household nutrition.
Zhou said Pakistan’s fertile soil, favorable climate and hardworking farmers offer strong agricultural potential. However, frequent heatwaves and floods linked to climate change have increased the need for heat-tolerant crop varieties.
To meet this challenge, Wuhan Qingfa Hesheng Seed Company is developing new varieties directly in Pakistan instead of relying only on trials conducted in China. It is also expanding winter crop programs to introduce Chinese vegetable varieties suited to local conditions.
Pakistan’s vegetable sector faces strong domestic demand from its 242 million population. Daily consumption remains high. Zhou said introducing leading Chinese vegetable varieties will help local farmers ensure stable supply and support Pakistan agriculture growth.