The opening ceremony of the Pakistan Agricultural Thousand Talents Program’s latest training project was held at Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, Hubei Province, marking another step forward in agricultural cooperation between China and Pakistan. The program, focused on seed production and processing technologies, aims to strengthen talent development in Pakistan’s growing seed industry.
The training course has been jointly organized by Huazhong Agricultural University and Wuhan Qingfa Hesheng Seed Company. According to CEN, a total of 54 Pakistani trainees attended the ceremony, representing various agricultural institutions and research bodies in Pakistan.
Shafqat Abbas, Deputy Secretary at Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR), participated in the event and highlighted the importance of the initiative. Speaking on behalf of the ministry, he said the Thousand Talents Program is a significant opportunity for Pakistan’s agricultural sector, especially as the country seeks to build expertise in modern seed technologies.
He emphasized that seed development is one of the top priorities for the Pakistani government, noting that reliable and high quality seeds are essential to improving crop productivity and ensuring food security. Abbas expressed confidence that the hands on training offered in Wuhan will strengthen Pakistan’s pool of skilled professionals and contribute to long term agricultural growth.
Ms. Zhu Xiaobo, General Manager of Qingfa Hesheng, also addressed the trainees. She highlighted her company’s two decade long presence in Pakistan, sharing experiences from various agricultural collaboration projects with Pakistani partners. She noted that the company has built strong relationships in the country and continues to contribute to agricultural modernization efforts through technology transfer and joint research.
Zhu explained that Qingfa Hesheng would support the trainees through a combination of classroom instruction, on site teaching, and practical field training. These sessions are designed to help participants understand the latest global advancements in seed production, processing technologies, and agricultural innovation.
The training program aims to familiarize Pakistani participants with cutting edge developments across multiple stages of seed development, from breeding and cultivation to storage and commercial processing. Organizers believe that exposure to China’s advanced agricultural systems will enable Pakistani trainees to apply modern techniques in their home institutions.
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has been sending Pakistani agricultural professionals to China under the Thousand Talents Program for several years. So far, nearly 700 Pakistani graduates have completed training through this initiative, reflecting a strong commitment to long term capacity building.
As the new batch begins its training in Wuhan, both sides hope the program will continue to deepen agricultural cooperation, enhance research partnerships, and equip Pakistan with the technical expertise needed for a more innovative and productive agricultural sector.
