Abdul Ghaffar Shar(right), a Pakistani doctoral student in China's Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, communicates with Ma Zhonghua, ahead of an agricultural company in Zhenba County, Hanzhong, Shannxi Province, China on June 30, 2020. [Photo provided to CEN]   

 

XI’AN, Sep. 2 (China Economic Net) – “I hope I can play a role in strengthening the exchanges of agricultural technology between Pakistan and China,” said Abdul Ghaffar Shar, a Pakistani student in China.       

 

Shar has been studying at Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (NWAFU), China since 2014. Now he is studying for his doctorate.

 

During the past seven years, Shar has visited many test stations across Shaanxi Province. Meanwhile, Shar has worked in the fields to help local farmers with his expertise.  

 

“How can we improve the yield of our tea leaf, Dr. Shar?” a local tea grower asked when Shar made a short research visit to Zhenba County, Shannxi Province, in June 2020.  

 

After observing the terrain of the tea garden, Shar advised the grower to add more places on the sloping fields to spread fertilize, which can make the fertilize more evenly to increase the yield.    

 

On fields, Shar has also learned from farmers and technicians about agricultural machinery and techniques. “Local farmers are very enthusiastic and have taught me a lot,” said Shar.

 

Internet Of Thing, smart agricultural cloud platform, big data … and others of China’s modern agriculture impressed Shar. “After graduation, I hope to bring China’s good equipment and techniques to my hometown in Sindh,” Shar said.    

 

 “I want to be an ‘envoy’ between China and Pakistan as the two countries deepen cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Belt and Road Initiative,” Shar told China Economic Net (CEN).  

 

“After the COVID-19 pandemic is under control, I plan to invite the chancellors of several agricultural universities of Pakistan to pay a visit to Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Industry Demonstration Zone for exchanges and cooperation,” said Shar.

 

Shar said that Pakistan is a big agricultural country. But, with the large-scale use of chemical fertilizers in recent years, Pakistan’s agricultural environment is being severely damaged.

 

"Many farmers in our country are using chemical fertilizers, which can increase production in a short time. But it brought great damage to the soil and is not conducive to the sustainable use of the land," said Shar.

 

“I have studied soil nutrition during my undergraduate study, hoping to find suitable solutions through my studies in China, and help Pakistani farmers realize the scientific and rational use of land,” Shar added.   

 

“From my point of view, the farmers should change their old ideology and use some organic sources just like straw amendments of wheat maize, rice and sugarcane so on. The results of the source will be slow but they will help soil fertility, increase soil microbial activity, and decrease carbon emission,” Shar told CEN.

 

“During the past seven year, I have learned a lot of new things and learned new different techniques about modern agriculture, which I want to share with the farmer communities of Pakistan,” said Shar.  

 

Shar also advised to do some collaboration in agriculture research under BRI. 

 

 

Abdul Ghaffar Shar (1st L) and other international students in China's Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, visit an agricultural company in Zhenba County, Hanzhong, Shannxi Province, China on June 30, 2020. [Photo provided to CEN]