After a powerful pilot project at 100 sections of land under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the next period of Chili cultivating will be prepared for execution with forthcoming planting.
While referring to an article published by China Economic Net, Lt Gen (Retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa-president of CPEC, tweeted on Sunday, saying that the Chilli farming could cover on area of 5000 acres in multiple regions of the country.
As per the article of China Economic Net, Pakistan has perfect conditions for Chili/Pepper (Capsicum Annum L.) farming. Pakistan is among the top 10 chili producing countries which relish a mixture of warm, humid yet dry weather & a well-tapped clay sand with rich organic substances.
Though, since 2015 Pakistan’s chili production has been lower than the world median for the same time period. Sindh is the largest producer of chili in Pakistan after that Punjab and Balochistan.
In July, a pilot Chili farm project under the collaboration between Pakistani farmers & their Chinese partners – CMEC & Sichuan Litong Food Group – initiated to stand fruit, with a yield around 3 times Pakistani varieties.
As per the statement of a worker who worked in the pilot Chilli farm in Qasbi, Lahore, the Chinese introduced an irrigation system, & the cost of fertilizer has been cut down & every plant was getting water. “Watering of plants is not complicated and expensive anymore,” he said.
Chinese Ambassador applauded the chili farming project, stating that the project is likely to produce more than 8,000 tons of dried chilies with a net income of more than Rs. 100,000 per acre for community farmers.
Wu Guang and Chen Changwei- chairpersons of Sichuan Litong Food Group, China pooled with the reporter their 3-step strategy.
Chen said that in the 1st stage of Chili Agreement Farming Project, China-Pakistan Agricultural Collaboration Pilot Zone is to be setting up in 5 years, establishing an industrial ring from areas all over Faisalabad, Multan, KPK & Lahore.
While the 2nd stage is processing. A chili processing factory will be set up in Pakistan within 3 years. And in the 3rd stage, a China-Pakistan food industrial park would be set up in 5 to 10 years to help Pakistan increase processed chilli exports in coming days.
According to figures published by the General Administration of Customs of China, China turned out to be the world’s top chilli & pepper consuming country, leaving plenty space for Pak-China collaboration.
Though, China did not import any chili or chili products from Pakistan in 2020. And for the last 5 years, China has only imported restricted processed chilli products from Pakistan worth USD 4,099 in 2018-2019.
