Pakistan :Will likely to reduce soyabean import bill a consultative session on growing soybean under strip intercropping technology with industrialists and farmers of Bahawalpur, organised by the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) in collaboration with Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was held at Baghdadul Jadeed Campus, IUB.
The National Research Centre of Intercropping Director Dr Muhammad Ali Raza gave a detailed briefing
on the cultivation of maize and soybeans or sugar through strip intercropping technology.
“By cultivating 20% of the area through intercropping of soybean with maize and sugarcane in spring,
Pakistan could reduce its soybean import bill by 30% within one season.
While In addition, in the same year, adopting soybean-wheat strip intercropping technology on 10% of
the wheat cultivated area, Pakistan could reduce another 15% of its soybean import bill.
All in all, Pakistan can reduce 45% of its soybean import bill within one year by just adopting this
technology on its 10-20% area,” he analysed.
Maize-soybean intercropping has significant potential to increase local soybean production in
Pakistan without reducing the existing maize production.
Also “From the successful experience from Sichuan Agricultural University (SAU), China, high yielding
soybean varieties can obtained, in which will save valuable foreign exchange spent on importing edible
oil and poultry feed,” Dr Raza said.
“The information relate to the Chinese experience is very valuable, and it is very gratifying that the
intercropping experience has carrie out by China’s Sichuan Agricultural University under the
leadership of Prof Yang Wenyu Cio.
This project has also been include in the CPEC projects and thanks to which new development opportunities will available for Pakistan,” said by Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Hafiz Mohammad Younis.
He also appraised Prof Dr Athar Mahboob of the IUB Vice Chancellor’s vision to improve the country’s agriculture and economy.
