Lahore — With water scarcity emerging as the most pressing challenge for Pakistan’s agriculture sector, experts stress the urgent need to develop crops that can withstand drought and poor soil fertility. Maize, being a global staple, has been identified as a key crop that could help the country turn this challenge into an opportunity.
Speaking after the signing of a China-Pakistan memorandum of understanding (MoU) on maize breeding and industrial development last week, Professor Yuan Guobao, Chairman of the Hubei Technical Market Association, underlined the importance of adapting agricultural practices to local conditions. “Developing drought- and infertility-tolerant crops is no longer optional, it’s imperative. Maize is the perfect crop to begin with,” he remarked.
Official data shows that Pakistan’s average corn yield between 2020-21 and 2025-26 stood at around 6.09 tons per hectare. In comparison, China’s average yield currently ranges between 8 to 10 tons per hectare, with the potential to reach 12-15 tons in fertile, well-irrigated areas. “This gap highlights the immense potential for Pakistan to increase its maize production,” Yuan told China Economic Net.
Having visited Pakistan more than 30 times, Yuan said he has a clear understanding of the country’s climate, soil, and water conditions. He emphasized that while China continues to import 20-30 million tons of maize annually to support its large population and livestock sector, Pakistan could boost its maize output by 30-50% through a combination of improved seed varieties and modern cultivation methods.
“To secure a good harvest, the starting point is fertile land,” Yuan explained. He highlighted recent Pakistani research that identified nearly 10 million hectares of saline-alkali land along the Indian Ocean coast. “In addition, some areas suffer from secondary salinity due to poor fertilization practices. The key lies in remediating this land first,” he said.
China, Yuan noted, has extensive experience in rehabilitating saline-alkali soils through a mix of engineering solutions and biological methods. Leveraging that expertise in Pakistan, he added, could help unlock the country’s vast agricultural potential and significantly increase its maize production in the years to come.
