Pak-China cooperation in Sorghum a new milestone in CPEC.

BEIJING -- Sorghum is a multi-purpose crop that can play an important role in food and fodder provision. At a time when the world is facing the dual challenges of the epidemic and the food crisis, it is a win-win choice to incorporate this multi-purpose crop into the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) cooperation framework and add another layer of guarantee to the food security of China and Pakistan, said experts.

"In 2020-21, we have carried out planting trials of more than ten sorghum varieties in Pakistan and achieved preliminary results, of which five varieties performed better. The tannin content of domestically grown sorghum is generally around 1.3 to 1.6 percent, however, according to trials data in Pakistan, benefited from local excellent light and temperature conditions, the tannin number can climb up to 2.3 percent.

Given that the important role of tannin in food processing and industrial production, we can promote the cultivation of these varieties in Pakistan, and then ship it back to China for further processing,"noted Yuan Guobao, Vice Chairman of the Council and Chairman of the Committee of Agricultural Experts at the NEXT Federation, in an interview with China Economic Net (CEN).

At a recently held symposium on sorghum Industry Development of China-Pakistan, Yuan Guobao not only systematically introduced the preliminary results of planting trials, but also pointed out the multiple economic benefits brought by possible large-scale planting in the future, "The superior drought, barren and saline-alkaline tolerance of Chinese hybrid sorghum varieties make it a good choice for Pakistan's water-deficient and saline-alkali areas."

Secondly, Pakistan has a vast rice-growing area. In some areas in the south near the Indian Ocean, after rice is harvested, sorghum can be planted in autumn and winter, thus the income of the local farmers can be increased by crop rotation. If the planting area can be expanded in the future, the offshore area means that our ships will be more convenient to transport the processed sorghum and save transportation costs. Beyond doubt, it is an excellent model of cooperation with multiple economic benefits, increasing Pakistan's foreign exchange effectively.

According to Yuan, if large-scale planting of China's dominant varieties can be realized in Pakistan, it is conservatively estimated that the local production will increase by about 50 percent. Even better, the high tannin content in sorghum means...