Islamabad
Pakistan-China Agriculture Cooperation Information Platform organised the first business matchmaking event between Chinese and Pakistani enterprises in the buffalo industry.
The virtual meeting discussed the feasibility of technological cooperation in developing buffalo embryos to create high-yield type of buffalo and the possibility of business cooperation in the production of buffalo milk, powder, meat and other value-added products that could shore up Pakistan’s export, reported China Economic Net (CEN) on Saturday.
“Can we import buffaloes from Pakistan?” That’s the first question asked by Lu Yangqing, Deputy Dean of College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University.
Pakistan’s Neeli-Ravi buffalo is one of the world’s famous river milk buffalo varieties, known as “black gold “.
A Chinese expert in dairy Wang Dingmian once introduced in a report that the milk production of domestic dairy cow in China is relatively low, with an annual output of about 600 to 800 kg per cow, while the annual milk production of Pakistan’s Neeli-Ravi buffalo is about 1.5 tons per one.
As early as 1974, 50 Pakistani Neeli-Ravi buffaloes were introduced to China, but the milk production decreased with the passage of time and no more had been imported since then. In this condition, Chinese companies expect to import more improved types of buffaloes from Pakistan.
However, according to the Pakistani government’s policy, “it’s not allowed to export live animals,”noted Dr. Khurshid Ahmad from Animal husbandry commissioner of Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
“If that’s not viable, we can develop buffaloes embryos,” Lu Yangqing suggested. “We have a lot of recipient buffaloes that are all swamp type buffaloes. So we can import embryos of indigenous types like Neeli Ravi or Hula Buffalo embryos into China and then transfer to our recipients.”
Responding to the suggestion, Dr. Farooq Sandhu from Al Haiwan Semen Company, Sahiwal, said, “Pakistan’s buffalo industry is in urgent need to extend its industrial chain to realize added value growth, and we hope Chinese counterparts can support us in technologies and manufacturing.”
According to Dr Farooq’s introduction, Al Haiwan Semen Company has six years of experience in developing cow embryos, and with the technological assistance from the Chinese company, Al Haiwan Semen may be capable of conducting experiments in Buffalo embryos and breeding better types.
“We are keen to invest in Pakistan, setting up a lab to jointly develop Buffalo embryos or having joint ventures with Pakistani counterparts to produce Buffalo milk and powder for export.
But we hope Pakistan can provide more favourable policies,”said Huang Jiadi, Chairman of Royal Group Co., Ltd., Chinese leading enterprise in the dairy industry and a pioneer in Buffalo milk production.
He added that there is already a mature business model in the camel milk and powder industry between enterprises from China and East-Asia that could lead the way forward.—TLTP
