Agricultural experts from Pakistan and China have highlighted the importance of stronger cooperation in corn production, seed technology and grain trade. They said closer partnerships could improve food security, increase farmers’ income and create new agricultural trade opportunities between the two countries.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The discussion took place during the 2026 Beijing Tianjin Hebei Fresh Edible Corn Industry Development Conference in Tongzhou District, Beijing.
The event was organised alongside the Sino Foreign Fresh Edible Corn Technical Exchange and Industrial Cooperation Seminar and the 12th Beijing Fresh Edible Corn Festival.
New Export Opportunities for Pakistani Corn
Professor Audil Rashid, Dean of Science and Chairperson of the Department of Botany at the University of Gujrat, presented a paper on the challenges and livelihood opportunities linked with Pakistan’s maize industry.
He said stronger technical and commercial cooperation with China could provide an important way forward for Pakistani farmers, particularly those living in rural areas.
According to the conference report, the phytosanitary protocol signed by Pakistan and China and market access granted by the General Administration of Customs of China have created a regulatory route for Pakistani corn shipments to enter the Chinese market.
Professor Rashid said this development could help Pakistan expand agricultural exports while encouraging farmers and businesses to improve product quality and meet international market requirements.
Fresh Corn Varieties Could Increase Farm Income
Pakistan already has considerable production capacity in field maize. However, experts believe cooperation with Chinese research organisations could help the country develop high value fresh corn varieties.
Sweet corn and baby corn were identified as promising products that could provide better returns to farmers and create opportunities in processing, retail and export markets.
Joint ventures involving seed companies, research institutions and commercial growers could also support the development of a stronger fresh corn value chain in Pakistan.
China Shares Progress in Seed Technology
Lu Baishan, a senior researcher at the Maize Research Institute of the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, shared China’s progress in fresh edible corn research and variety development.
He discussed improvements in elite germplasm selection, resistance to environmental stress, crop yield and the ability of corn varieties to maintain quality after harvesting.
He said Chinese research institutions were prepared to share technical knowledge, modern breeding methods and resilient crop varieties with international partners including Pakistan.
Such cooperation could help Pakistani researchers and seed companies develop corn varieties suitable for local farming conditions and changing climate patterns.
Growing Role of Agricultural Research
Experts at the conference said research partnerships would be important for improving seed quality, crop productivity and post harvest management.
Cooperation in germplasm research could also support the development of varieties with better taste, higher yield, improved shelf life and greater resistance to heat, drought and crop diseases.
These improvements could reduce production losses and strengthen Pakistan’s ability to supply both domestic and international markets.
Corn Cooperation Under CPEC
The conference highlighted corn cooperation as an important part of the broader agricultural partnership between Pakistan and China.
With market access developing and research cooperation expanding, the partnership could become a significant area of agricultural activity under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor framework.
The initiative could support food security, agricultural modernisation, rural employment and value added exports between the two countries.