Scientists of the National Research Center of Intercropping (NRCI) at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur have just finished spring sowing. This year the intercropping demonstration fields have spread across all provinces of Pakistan, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Tuesday.
The journey started with Pakistani scientists acquiring this cutting-edge technology from their Chinese counterparts, envisioning its potential to revolutionize agriculture in their homeland. Experiment and demonstration trials began in 2018, spearheaded by these scientists at local farms, showcasing their acquired expertise.
In 2021, under the vision of former Vice Chancellor of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Prof. Dr. Athar Mehboob, the National Research Center of Intercropping was established, comprising a team of local agronomists, breeders and soil scientists who ever studied overseas especially in China.
“This shift is primarily attributed to the pivotal role of maize and soybean as staple grains for both food and feed production, essential for sustaining economies across various nations.
In light of Pakistan’s agricultural needs, we want to uplift the country’s agricultural sector and improve the economic well-being of farmers,” said Dr. Muhammad Ali Raza, NRCI Director & International Researcher at Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Presently, NRCI is demonstrating three major intercropping systems i.e. maize-soybean, sugarcane-soybean, and cotton-soybean at farmer’s fields in every province of Pakistan.
