by Wang Xiaotong

 

CHENGDU, June 8 (China Economic Net) – An MOU signing ceremony between Sichuan Agricultural University (SAU) and The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) was held online today. Based on the MOU, the two universities are going to cooperate in the establishment of China-Pakistan Crop Research Center and bilateral exchanges on academics and education.

 

 

“I noticed that Pakistan is now applying maize-soybean strip intercropping technology from SAU Professor Yang Wenyu’s team and has achieved excellent results. Moreover, the establishment of China-Pakistan Crop Research Center has also been approved. I sincerely congratulate the cooperation and wish fruitful achievements between us,” addressed by Chen Daiwen, SAU Vice President. He hopes new agricultural technologies represented by maize-soybean strip intercropping can benefit more people in Pakistan.

 

It’s learned that China-Pakistan Crop Research Center will focus on high yield and high quality of intercropping crops. The two universities will cooperate in research, demonstration and promotion of variety selection, optimization of cultivation technology, plant protection and agricultural mechanization.

 

“It is indeed a historic day today. The strength of networking between individuals and institutions allows us to better tackle the global-scale challenges of food security, climate change, sustainable development and public health. With the expertise and advanced research from China, we believe we can learn from our Chinese counterparts and then apply and modify the same techniques according to the needs and the local environment of Pakistan,” said Prof. Athar Mahboob, IUB Vice Chancellor. He is looking forward to getting assistance from SAU in the areas of wheat, rice, forestry, etc.  

 

“Over the last few months, we have been visiting the strip intercropping trials conducted by Dr. Muhammad Ali Raza under the supervision of Prof. Yang Wenyu. The technology has been highly appreciated in Pakistan at all levels, up to ministers in the government of Pakistan. We would be very much interested in conducting larger-scale trails under the MOU signed today,” Prof. Athar Mahboob added after signing the MOU.

 

 

 

“Maize-soybean strip intercropping technology is progressing in Pakistan. Thank you all. I hope in the future this technology will be widely used in Pakistan to produce more soybeans for Pakistan,” said Prof. Yang Wenyu, study leader of maize-soybean strip intercropping technology at SAU.

 

According to the MOU, SAU annually will provide scholarships for 20 to 25 IUB students who will become the ‘bridge’ between China and Pakistan in agriculture. “I am really honored that I have many great teachers at SAU who teach me new technologies, how to do experiments, and how to demonstrate the technology to people in different areas. I hope more Pakistan students and faculty will learn new technologies from SAU and return to serve Pakistan, which is mutually beneficial to both countries as we are so closely related to each other,” said SAU post-doc Muhammad Ali Raza who is successfully applying the Chinese agricultural technology to Pakistan. 

 

 

 

Prof. Wang Jirui, Dean, College of Agronomy, SAU, Prof. Xia Xinrong, Director of International Office of Exchange and Cooperation (IOEC), SAU, Dr. Chen Qing, Vice Director of IOEC, SAU, Prof. Yang Feng, College of Agronomy, SAU, Dr. Yan Yuwei, Section Chief, Foreign Personnel Management Section of IOEC, SAU, Dr. Abid Shahzad, Director, Directorate of International Linkages, IUB, Waseem Ahmed, Principal Staff Officer, IUB, Prof. Muhammad Iqbal Bandesha, Dean of College of Agronomy, IUB, Prof. Muhammad Moazzam Jameel, Registrar, IUB, Prof. Tanyeer Hussain Turabi, Director, Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies, etc. attended the signing ceremony.