Punjab’s agricultural minister meets with a group from China

Punjab Agriculture and Livestock Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani visited a group from China and asked Chinese businessmen to set up agricultural machinery manufacturing units in the province.

During the meeting, the minister underlined the province’s enormous contribution to the country’s agricultural production, adding that Punjab produced 76 percent of the country’s wheat, 62 percent of rice, 54 percent of cotton, 98 percent of maize and 71.3 percent of sugarcane.

He added that the trend of manufacture and use of agricultural machinery in Punjab is on a steady rise. He said that high-horsepower tractors, harvesters and other innovative farm equipment are being imported from China at now.

There are also wide investment potential for Chinese investors in the industries of seeds, fertilizers, biotechnology and crop protection, the minister pointed out.

Punjab produces 60 per cent of the country’s milk and 65 per cent of meat, he added. “Special measures are being taken for improving value addition and exports of dairy and meat products.”

Members of the Chinese delegation indicated enthusiasm to invest in Punjab’s agriculture sector and to introduce innovation and contemporary technology in farming activities all across the province.