Sahiwal (TDI): Pakistan is positioning itself to tap into China’s $2.6 billion sorghum import market, seeking to enhance local cultivation of the drought-tolerant crop and unlock $500 million in exports over the next decade, officials shared at a seminar on Thursday.
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) held the session in Sahiwal, bringing together agricultural experts, traders, farmers, and policymakers to revive sorghum lowered dropped by 89 percent since 1994 — from 438,200 to 46,697 hectares, TDAP data revealed.
Athar Hussain Khokhar, Director-General of TDAP’s Agro Food Division, said that the opportunity is clear. Revitalizing sorghum cultivation, especially marginal lands like Thal and Cholistan, could transform this crop into an export powerhouse.
He pointed to a sharp decline in US sorghum exports to China — down 81.8 percent in January — amid trade tensions, creating a supply gap that Islamabad could exploit.
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China imports over 9 million tonnes of sorghum annually, mainly for livestock feed, biofuels and baijiu production.
Beijing’s diversification away from American suppliers opens a door for Pakistan, according to Ghulam Qadir, Pakistan’s Trade & Investment Counsellor in Beijing.
Experts at the seminar emphasized the need for high-yield hybrid seeds, mechanized farming, and strong extension services to enhance productivity from current levels of 0.8 tonnes per hectare to the international average of 3.26 tonnes.
Dr Qamar Shakil, principal scientist at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, stated that aligning with China’s preference for high-starch, low-tannin varieties would be very important.
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Participants underlined challenges, including the absence of a sanitary and phytosanitary protocol with China’s general administration of customs, underdeveloped post-harvest infrastructure, and limited export-grade varieties.
Proposals were made like forging technological partnerships with Chinese research organizations, modernizing the supply chain, and leveraging the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for logistical advantages.
