China-Pakistan cooperating on cauliflower hybrid planting.

BEIJING -- A Chinese company have cooperated with Pakistan on cauliflower hybrid planting by carrying out experiments, demonstrations and promotions in multiple growing seasons since 2016.

"So far, our orders have doubled several times," said Sui Liying, Executive Deputy General Manager of Tianjin Tianlong Zaitian Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd., in an interview with China Economic Net.

"The yield per mu (0.067 hectares) of local varieties is 600-700 kilograms, while that of our varieties is basically 1,300-2,000 kilograms with certain late maturing variety even reaching 3,000-4,000 kilograms".

In the past, Pakistan used to think the quality of Chinese seeds seems to be not as good as that from European countries and the US, but now they have changed this perception. Our seed variety has a germination rate of 90 percent, above the international standard of 85 percent. You buy the seeds at a low price, but their survival rate is high. Farmers can get a double advantage," he added.

Pakistani farmers choose Chinese seeds not only because of low prices. "If you only rely on low prices to occupy the market, but the quality is not guaranteed, you will soon be eliminated from the market." In this regard, Sui also proposed corresponding measures. "Pakistan is located in South Asia, where the temperature is relatively high, so insects multiply rapidly, resulting in pests and diseases that seriously affect agricultural output.

The heat and disease resistance of Chinese early-maturing varieties are more suitable for Pakistan's climate. "We have a special pest and disease nursery, that contains various pests and diseases that have accumulated for many years. We first select varieties here without using any pesticides, so the varieties that can grow have better resistance. Then we choose those varieties that perform well to transplant in other nurseries for selection."

Regarding this, Sui Liying also mentioned the impact of the cauliflower harvest season on market price fluctuations. As a cold-loving cruciferous crop, a particularly hot climate may stunt the emerging curd of cauliflower, so heat-resistant cauliflower varieties are crucial to compensate for the reduced yield caused by the climate.

The growing cycle is also another key factor that affects the price of the cauliflower market in Pakistan. Although cauliflower is available throughout the year in Pakistan, the early-maturing variety is more expensive. Cauliflower available in...