Pakistan to Introduce More High-yield Crop Seeds From China
Pakistan is moving to expand access to high-yield crop seeds from China as it seeks to raise agricultural productivity, strengthen food security and ease mounting pressure on food prices.
In the latest development, Pakistan’s Federal Seed Analyst Waqas Amjad signed an agreement with a seed company in Chongqing, China, to facilitate the introduction of additional Chinese crop varieties, including rice, rapeseed, corn, soybeans, and vegetables.
The move came after Amjad concluded a training program in China, where he explored cooperation in seed technology and agricultural development.
Pakistan is also considering several measures to make it easier for Chinese seed companies to enter the Pakistani market and accelerate the commercialization of new varieties. These include:
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Reducing the adaptation testing period: The current two-year period could be shortened to one year, enabling quicker access for new varieties to farmers.
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Expanding import permissions: Allowing more registered Chinese seed companies to directly conduct business in Pakistan instead of limiting imports to designated companies.
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Encouraging joint ventures: Pakistan is encouraging Chinese companies to partner with local firms through joint ventures to lower market entry barriers and facilitate the deployment of improved seed varieties.
This push comes amidst rising food prices in Pakistan. The country’s Sensitive Price Indicator, a measure of short-term inflation, rose 9.66 percent year on year in the week ending August 20, according to figures from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Wheat and flour have been key contributors, with national average prices for a 20-kilogram bag of flour reaching between 2,200 and 3,133 rupees, up 62.25% year-on-year.
Onions and tomatoes also saw significant price increases, with onion prices jumping 132.52% year on year and tomato prices rising 93.21%.
“Pakistan’s seed sector faces a significant supply gap,” Amjad noted. The Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26 indicates certified seed availability of about 767.9 thousand tonnes against estimated requirements of 2.06 million tonnes across major crops.
Chinese seed technology has already achieved notable success in Pakistan, most notably with hybrid rice, which has boosted yields in demonstration fields.