In a significant development, the government of Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region has entered into an agreement with China’s Gansu province to facilitate the transfer of high-mountain agriculture technology and machinery. The pact aims to boost local farmers’ crop production, enhancing agriculture in the mountainous area.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formalized during the visit of an eight-member Gilgit-Baltistan government delegation, led by Agriculture Minister Muhammad Anwar, to China’s Gansu province. The technology transfer is anticipated to modernize the agriculture sector, specifically increasing wheat, maize, potato, and buckwheat production.
Khadim Hussain, a coordinator of the GB Economic Transformation Initiative, emphasized the cooperative efforts’ objectives: “To improve communication between these two regions, the Chinese government will help the government of Gilgit-Baltistan for the development of agriculture, food security, and human and livestock development.” Notably, the geographic and weather similarities between Gansu and Gilgit-Baltistan make this collaboration particularly promising.
Under the agreement, Gansu Agriculture and Mechanical Company will provide machinery for sowing, harvesting, and silage, accompanied by training for local farmers. Technical and vocational training, as well as research and development in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, will be integral components of the collaboration.
Ghulamullah Saqib, a deputy director at the GB agriculture department, lauded the move, emphasizing its positive impact on the region. He highlighted the water crisis facing a significant portion of the arable land in Gilgit-Baltistan and expressed hope that the collaboration would usher in a new era of agricultural growth in the region.
