Opportunities and challenges of agrarian development through CPEC

Opportunities and Challenges of Agrarian Development through CPEC: Agriculture and exports prospects in northern Pakistan

Pakistan is an agricultural country and recently it has faced tremendous challenges in the agricultural industry which caused economic implications for the common man and also for the economy of the country. These Opportunities and Challenges were explored in the pretext of CPEC and the future of the agriculture industry in northern Pakistan.

This was the theme of the seminar titled “Opportunities and Challenges of Agrarian development through CPEC: Agriculture and exports prospects in northern Pakistan” which was organized on November 3, 2021, by the Department of International Relations, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science, and Technology (FUUAST).

Dr.Micheal Spies from Eberswalde University for sustainable development, Germany was the keynote speaker of the seminar which was chaired by Dr. Faisal Javed,assistant professor of, IR department FUUAST. This event was also addressed by Dr. Asghar Dashti, HoD IR department, FUUAST.

Dr. Micheal Spies believed that the Chinese flagship project CPEC will bring huge opportunities for the development of agriculture in northern Pakistan because the Belt and Road Initiative is building regional connectivity and cooperation among the neighboring countries and it will strengthen partnerships with china as the leading power in Asia and it will also bring mutual economic benefits for the countries who are associated with BRI.

Dr.Spies said Pakistan and China need to focus on agriculture sectors in their bilateral negotiations as it has already been mentioned in the official CPEC plans to modern agriculture in the regions along the CPEC to effectively boost the development of the local agricultural economy and help local people get rid of poverty and also help [Pakistan] grow into a highly inclusive, globally competitive and prosperous country capable of providing high-quality life to its citizen.

???Moreover, the speaker said that? Transporation is the prime vehicle for trade and energy and there has been a? lot of improvement in roads and supply of electricity in Pakistan but major steps need be taken in regard to agriculture development in northern Pakistan.

Dr.Micheal Spies emphasized that CPEC is providing huge opportunities in the agricultural sector which will help in modernizing Pakistan agriculture sector through collaboration with China, joint research, knowledge and technology transfer, and also access to new export markets in China.

He said initially the CPEC was centered around building infrastructure and Industries and now entering Phase II of building special economic zones which will be tax-free, this will bring the opportunity of Agribusiness investments and also Indirect benefits of infrastructure improvements in the agriculture sector.

?Finally, Dr. Micheal Spies concluded the seminar by briefly explaining the fruit export to China especially focusing on cherry because there is a huge demand for cherries in China and China imports from chile and it takes days to reach China, and in fact cherry production in Gilgit-Baltistan currently approx. 4,000 tons annually and the Export of cherries to China will be mutually beneficial for both nations because the production and access to the market are in their doorsteps.