Pakistan to Send Second Batch of Agriculture Graduates to China for Advanced Training
The Government of Pakistan is advancing its ambitious agricultural modernization drive by sending a second group of 100 young agriculture graduates to China for a six-month specialized training program in crop breeding and genomics. This initiative, part of a larger plan launched by the Prime Minister to upskill 1,000 agricultural professionals, aims to equip future leaders with expertise in climate-smart, technology-driven farming practices drawn from China’s experience.
The departing cohort, referred to as Batch-II, will travel to the Southwest University of Science and Technology aboard a PIA chartered flight. Their program aims to provide hands-on exposure to advanced agricultural research, with a particular focus on breeding techniques, genomics, and innovative technologies that have transformed China’s agricultural output.
A pre-departure ceremony was organized at the National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) in Islamabad by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) to brief the outgoing trainees. During the event, officials from the MNFSR, Higher Education Commission (HEC), and other collaborating agencies highlighted the initiative as integral to the Prime Minister’s vision of fortifying Pakistan’s agriculture through technological adoption and research-driven solutions.
Speakers at the event encouraged the graduates to make the most of this unique opportunity, urging them to uphold discipline and serve as ambassadors for scientific cooperation between Pakistan and China. They emphasized the broader goals behind the program: strengthening national food security, modernizing rural economies, and positioning Pakistan as an export-oriented agricultural producer.
Officials noted that this targeted investment in human capital will yield long-term benefits by enabling the participants to disseminate new knowledge and practices upon their return, thereby supporting sustainable development in the sector.
This effort builds on the successful completion of a previous training cycle, in which 292 candidates completed a three-month intensive program at institutions in Shaanxi province, China. These graduates are scheduled to return to Pakistan, further bolstering the nation’s reservoir of modern agricultural expertise.
The initiative is the result of a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, the Planning Commission, and the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing, reflecting a whole-of-government approach to elevating the country’s agricultural potential.
