ISLAMABAD, June 20 (DNA): Chairman China Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC) Authority, Lt. Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa on Sunday said the
pilot project of Chilli farms in the country had been completed with
cooperation of the Chinese agricultural experts.

“Pilot project of Chilli Farm with100 acres is completed,” he said in
his tweet, adding that in the next phase, as many as 3000 acres of land
would be brought under chili cultivation. He said the Pak-China
Condiment alliance had been formed with the Chinese partners CMEC and
Sichuan Litong Food Group.

Asim said this project would also help boosting exports of spices from
the country. He said this project would enhance yield, improve seed
quality, skill development, farm labour, and processing.

According to official sources the project chili farming is expected to
produce more than 8,000 tons of dried chilies with a net income of more
than 100,000 rupees per acre for local farmers. Based on this, it will
further develop downstream deep processing industries and create more
employment opportunities.

The sources added that in the first phase of Chili Contract Farming
Project, China-Pakistan Agricultural Cooperation Pilot Zone is to be set
up in five years, while in its Phase II, it is expected to grow 30,000
acres of chilli and build pigment extracting plant, with an industrial
output value of US $ 200 million.

While in the third phase, a China-Pakistan food industrial park would be
established in 5 to 10 years, to promote the condiment industry in both
countries.

As per agricultural cooperation under the mega project of CPEC, a plan
of 20 projects is being implemented to modernize the agriculture sector
in Pakistan, including new seeds to increase the crop yield, upgrading
of irrigation system, promotion of agri-based industry for value
addition and setting up global chain network. DNA

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