Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan has set an ambitious goal of exporting 10,000 metric tonnes of sesame seeds to China in 2025, under agricultural cooperation projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Officials say the initiative is being driven by contract farming, technology transfer, and infrastructure upgrades supported by Chinese partners.
China Machinery Engineering Corporation has already expanded sesame cultivation to around 5,000 acres in Pakistan, introducing modern techniques, providing farmer training, and ensuring compliance with quality standards. The collaboration aims to build a stronger sesame supply chain and prepare growers to meet China’s rising demand.
In 2024, Pakistan’s sesame exports to China were valued at about $226 million, and trade officials expect shipments to grow steadily in the years ahead. China, which imports over one million tonnes of sesame annually for use in cooking oil and health foods, is viewed as a key growth market for Pakistan.
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Analysts say contract farming provides farmers with stable buyers and expert guidance, while joint research programs are helping develop sesame varieties suited to Pakistan’s soil and climate. Improvements in seeds, fertilizer use, and pest control are being prioritized to raise yields and maintain export quality.
Challenges remain, however. Extreme weather and floods could disrupt production, and some farmers may struggle to adopt modern practices quickly. Meeting Chinese quality and phytosanitary standards is seen as crucial to sustaining the trade relationship.
Officials believe reaching the 10,000-tonne target would mark an important step toward deepening Pakistan-China trade ties while boosting farmer incomes. They also note that the initiative reflects the broader potential of CPEC to transform Pakistan’s agricultural exports.
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Alongside sesame, rice exports to China have surged. From January to August 2025, Pakistan shipped rice worth $44.3 million, up nearly 70 percent from the same period last year, with semi- and wholly-milled rice driving the increase. Broken rice exports also rose strongly.
Experts say the competitiveness of Pakistani rice in quality, taste, and pricing, along with facilitation under the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, has accelerated demand. But they caution that recent flood damage to agriculture may weigh on future export volumes.
