ISLAMABAD, March 17 (ABC): The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) has proposed a Rs1.65 billion project to promote oilseed cultivation and reduce reliance on imported edible oil.

The five-year project, titled “The National Crop Diversification and Import Substitution Program (Oilseeds),” will run from July 2026 to June 2031 across the country, according to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan.

Boosting domestic oilseed production

The initiative aims to increase domestic oilseed production through climate-smart agriculture, modern seed systems, farmer training, and improved value chains.

In addition, the programme will introduce cluster-based crop diversification. It will also establish farmer field demonstration hubs and digital advisory systems to help growers adopt modern farming practices.

Strengthening seed systems and productivity

The plan focuses on strengthening the national seed system by expanding breeder, foundation, and certified seed production. This approach is expected to improve both yields and profitability of priority oilseed crops.

At the same time, the initiative supports agricultural innovation and growth. It aims to reduce edible oil imports by 10 to 20 percent through local production.

Cluster development and farmer support

Under the proposed plan, authorities will carry out national zoning for six oilseed crops and develop 10 to 15 production clusters across Pakistan.

The project will also establish 20 to 50 operational model farms. Moreover, cluster expansion will shift around 100,000 acres towards oilseed cultivation.

In addition, 50 to 100 demonstration hubs will be set up, each covering two to five hectares. Training programmes will benefit 2,000 to 5,000 farmers and extension workers.

Research, seed production and partnerships

The proposal includes evaluation of around 6,000 germplasm accessions. It also aims to scale up certified seed production to between 2,000 and 5,000 tons.

Furthermore, the project will establish 10 to 15 seed multiplication farms. Authorities also plan five to seven public-private partnership agreements to strengthen certified seed supply and industry linkages.

Overall, the initiative is expected to improve domestic oilseed productivity and help reduce Pakistan’s edible oil import bill through locally produced alternatives.

ISLAMABAD, March 16 (ABC): The Sindh government has trained 21,500 teachers under its flagship education reform programme to improve the quality of teaching at the primary school level.

The initiative is part of the Sindh Early Learning Enhancement through Classroom Transformation (SELECT) project. The programme aims to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy among primary school students across the province.

According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the project has a total cost of $167.21 million. It is scheduled for completion in April 2026. However, authorities have already requested an extension until April 2027 to continue the programme’s activities.

Under the initiative, teachers have completed several Continuous Professional Development (CPD) cycles. These training sessions focus on modern teaching techniques, better classroom engagement, and improved learning outcomes for young students.

Experts consider teacher training a key component of the project. Early-grade instruction plays a crucial role in shaping students’ long-term academic performance. Therefore, improving teaching practices at the primary level can significantly strengthen the overall education system.

The programme is currently being implemented in 12 districts of Sindh. It covers schools in both rural and urban areas so that children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds can benefit from improved teaching methods.

In addition to teacher training, the project has distributed 467,385 sets of teaching and learning materials (TLMs) among Grade 1 to Grade 5 students and teachers. These materials are designed to make classroom learning more interactive and effective.

According to the project document, the SELECT programme has so far reached 10,993 schools and benefited around 741,591 students across the targeted districts.

Moreover, the initiative includes infrastructure improvements. Under this component, 295 primary schools are being upgraded to elementary and secondary levels. Construction work has already started in these institutions.

Of these facilities, 190 schools are expected to be ready for handover by April 2026. The remaining 105 schools are scheduled for completion by October 2026.

Furthermore, the programme includes baseline assessments through the Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and the Early Grade Mathematics Assessment (EGMA). These evaluations help measure students’ learning levels and monitor progress during the project period.

Overall, the initiative is expected to strengthen primary education in Sindh and help reduce dropout rates in later stages of schooling as the programme moves toward completion in April 2026.

ISLAMABAD, March 13 (ABC): Cultivation of pistachio on a trial basis has started in Punjab’s Potohar region as researchers test whether the area’s climate suits this high-value nut crop.

“We have successfully grown pistachio plants, but the fruiting process is taking longer than expected,” Aqeel Feroz, Senior Scientist at the Barani Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Chakwal, told Wealth Pakistan.

Experimental cultivation under way

Feroz said BARI has imported six pistachio varieties from California, one of the world’s major producers of this widely consumed nut.

He explained that pistachio cultivation remains at an experimental stage because the plants take several years to start bearing fruit.

The varieties currently under experimental cultivation at BARI include Napolitano, Larnaka, Sirora, 3C and Golden Hills.

“We have harvested only a few bunches of fruit so far. However, we want to see the plants fully laden before recommending commercial cultivation so that the crop becomes economically viable for growers,” Feroz said.

Research to identify suitable varieties

BARI scientists are conducting research to identify pistachio varieties that suit the agro-climatic conditions of northern Punjab.

“Pistachios traditionally grow in cooler and arid regions such as Balochistan. However, experimental cultivation is showing promise in the drier parts of Punjab,” he said.

According to him, a mature pistachio plant can produce around 15 to 20 kilograms of fruit. This yield could provide attractive returns for farmers.

Experts believe pistachio farming could become a valuable option for growers once commercial cultivation begins.

Growing demand and heavy imports

Pistachio consumption in Pakistan continues to rise because people widely use it as a premium dry fruit. It is commonly used in snacks, traditional desserts such as kheer and barfi, and bakery products.

Although pistachios grow in some parts of Balochistan, the country still relies heavily on imports.

Pakistan imported about 6.86 million kilograms of pistachios worth $8.96 million in 2024. Most imports came from Iran ($8.87 million) and the United States.

Local production could reduce import dependence

“With the changing geopolitical situation, importing pistachios from regional countries such as Iran and Afghanistan is becoming both difficult and expensive,” Muhammad Zeeshan, a dry fruit importer at Lahore’s Akbari Mandi, told Wealth Pakistan.

He said promoting local pistachio production would benefit the national economy.

Success stories from Balochistan

Horticulture experts say Balochistan and Upper Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa already offer encouraging examples of pistachio cultivation.

“About 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) of land in Balochistan is under pistachio cultivation in upland areas stretching from Kalat to Quetta and Loralai divisions,” Prof Dr Shahjahan Shabbir Rana, a horticulture expert at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), told Wealth Pakistan.

He said the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and the Balochistan Agricultural Research and Development Center (BARDC) jointly developed four pistachio varieties.

“Three new pistachio varieties have recently been registered,” Dr Rana said.

New varieties under research

Researchers have also introduced the UCB-1 hybrid cultivar from the United States to strengthen research and development efforts.

Dr Rana said wild varieties such as Pistacia Khinjuk are also under experimental cultivation.

Currently, pistachio production in Balochistan meets only a small portion of the country’s demand.

“Nevertheless, it remains promising in every respect, especially as imports from Iran and Afghanistan are becoming more expensive due to changing geopolitical dynamics,” he said.