nahtanbob
Elite Member
Won't Pakistan be too cold for tea?
Pakistan Agriculture News / Discussions
- Thread starter ghazi52
- Start date
AZ_HighCountry
INT'L MOD
Depends on the region. Based on an AI search:
Ideal Climate for Tea Cultivation
Temperature Requirements
- Optimal Range: Tea plants thrive in temperatures between 13°C and 32°C (55°F to 90°F).
- Best Growth Conditions: Ideal growth occurs at 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F).
- Sunlight: Tea plants require at least 5 hours of sunlight daily.
Rainfall Needs
- Annual Rainfall: Tea plants need about 1,200 mm to 1,500 mm (47 to 59 inches) of rainfall per year.
- Distribution: Rainfall should be evenly distributed throughout the year, especially during the growing season.
Humidity Levels
- Ideal Humidity: Relative humidity should be around 80% for optimal growth.
- Effects of Low Humidity: Humidity below 70% can negatively impact growth and yield.
Additional Factors
- Soil Conditions: Tea prefers well-drained, acidic soils.
- Elevation: Tea can be grown at elevations up to 2,100 meters (6,890 feet), where cooler temperatures can enhance flavor profiles.
If I remember my geography correctly, areas of Pakistan more than qualify.
hydrabadi_arab
Trusted Member
Speed breeding delivers 400 chickpea lines
APP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has developed 400 advanced chickpea breeding lines under a newly established Speed Breeding Facility, aimed at accelerating the development of climate-resilient and high-yield pulse varieties.
Dr Shahid Riaz Malik, Head of the Pulses Research Programme at the National Agricultural Research Centre, said the breeding lines were developed using controlled-environment speed breeding techniques and are being prepared for field testing. He said the facility reduces the development cycle of pulse varieties by nearly half, cutting the time needed to release a new variety from 12 to 15 years to about seven to eight years.
The facility focuses on chickpeas, lentils, mung beans, black gram and other pulses vital for food security and farm incomes, using controlled temperature, humidity and light to grow crops every two months instead of once a year. Dr Malik said chickpea normally takes six months in open fields and can be grown once a year, but under speed breeding five to six generations can be produced annually, allowing rapid screening for drought, heat and disease resistance.
Promising lines are advanced quickly through hybridisation before entering field trials, followed by national yield testing and approval by seed councils prior to release to farmers.
The centre is Pakistan's first dedicated speed breeding facility for pulses and the largest in South Asia, with chickpea research nearing completion and lentil work about 70% to 75% finalised. Protocols for mung bean and black gram are being optimised, while the programme has expanded to peanuts, millet and other crops, alongside training for scientists and students in modern breeding techniques.
ghazi52
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Thread starter
- #244
Garlic,
Garlic, a staple kitchen item in Pakistan, has emerged as a striking example of how local production could replace imports and even open new export avenues. Convener of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Committee on Food, Shahid Imran, said Pakistan spent around $52 million, or nearly Rs14.5 billion, on garlic imports from China during 2024 alone. He said this entire amount could be saved if garlic cultivation is developed on a commercial scale in the Sahiwal division, which already has suitable soil and climate conditions and is widely known for potato farming.
He stressed that the biggest hurdle in shifting farmers towards garlic cultivation is the high upfront cost of quality seed. He proposed that the government select a few union councils in the Sahiwal division and provide interest-free loans ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs200,000 per acre for certified seed and essential farm inputs. Without such support, he said, small farmers remain reluctant to experiment with new but potentially lucrative crops.
Imran pointed out that China is the world's largest producer and exporter of garlic, with annual production exceeding 20 million tonnes and yields almost two-and-a-half times higher than Pakistan's average. He suggested that Pakistan could learn from the Chinese model by training agriculture graduates specifically in garlic farming and deploying them in selected union councils for the first two to three years to guide farmers on modern techniques, seed selection and post-harvest handling.
Garlic, a staple kitchen item in Pakistan, has emerged as a striking example of how local production could replace imports and even open new export avenues. Convener of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Committee on Food, Shahid Imran, said Pakistan spent around $52 million, or nearly Rs14.5 billion, on garlic imports from China during 2024 alone. He said this entire amount could be saved if garlic cultivation is developed on a commercial scale in the Sahiwal division, which already has suitable soil and climate conditions and is widely known for potato farming.
He stressed that the biggest hurdle in shifting farmers towards garlic cultivation is the high upfront cost of quality seed. He proposed that the government select a few union councils in the Sahiwal division and provide interest-free loans ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs200,000 per acre for certified seed and essential farm inputs. Without such support, he said, small farmers remain reluctant to experiment with new but potentially lucrative crops.
Imran pointed out that China is the world's largest producer and exporter of garlic, with annual production exceeding 20 million tonnes and yields almost two-and-a-half times higher than Pakistan's average. He suggested that Pakistan could learn from the Chinese model by training agriculture graduates specifically in garlic farming and deploying them in selected union councils for the first two to three years to guide farmers on modern techniques, seed selection and post-harvest handling.
ghazi52
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Thread starter
- #246
There are significant tea plantations in Shinkiari, Mansehra District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, centered around the National Tea & High Value Crops Research Institute (NTHRI), established in 1986 to develop local tea production, with efforts focusing on growing tea in suitable areas like Shinkiari to reduce Pakistan's heavy tea imports, developing local varieties, and training farmers in the region. The institute researches high-value crops and aims to make Pakistan self-sufficient in tea, with encouraging results from trials in the region.
hydrabadi_arab
Trusted Member
ISLAMABAD: In a significant policy shift, the government, in collaboration with the farming community and sugar industry representatives, has decided to fully deregulate the sugar sector, marking a key step in implementing structural reforms recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to a comprehensive plan, a copy of which is available with Business Recorder, the deregulation move will hand control of the sugar industry over to market forces, ending decades of state intervention. The decision follows the earlier deregulation of the wheat sector, with sugar now set to follow suit.
The plan outlines a series of wide-ranging reforms aimed at eliminating government oversight.
READ MORE: Draft policy on deregulating sugar sector finalised
Under the new policy, farmers will have complete freedom to cultivate sugarcane, without any restrictions on the varieties they grow or the zones in which they plant.
They will also have the liberty to sell their sugarcane to any sugar mill or use it to produce jaggery, free from government control.
The government will no longer regulate sugarcane prices. The document reveals that the existing minimum support price mechanism will be abolished, with prices instead determined by market demand and supply. This marks a fundamental shift in agricultural pricing policy, moving towards a market-driven approach.
As part of the deregulation, the government has also pledged to eliminate subsidies on sugar exports and remove the current export quotas on sugar mills.
In a major liberalisation measure, the longstanding ban on both sugar imports and exports will be lifted, allowing for free trade in the commodity.
The plan further proposes lifting the ban on the establishment of new sugar mills across the country.
Mills that have been closed for up to eight months will now be allowed to import raw materials. The deregulation will also grant sugar mills the freedom to process both locally grown sugarcane and imported raw sugar.
In an effort to boost industry capacity, sugar mills will be permitted to import raw sugar, refine it locally, and re-export the refined product. This is expected to increase capacity utilisation and enhance exports of refined sugar.
While the plan aims to reduce government involvement in the sector, safeguards for farmers have been proposed. A list of prohibited sugarcane varieties will be issued before each sowing season to prevent the cultivation of low-yield or suboptimal varieties, helping to protect farmers’ interests.
Officials believe this measure will strike a balance between encouraging market freedom and ensuring that farmers are not left vulnerable to the consequences of unregulated cultivation.
The reform package signals a major shift towards a market-driven agricultural economy, in line with the IMF’s structural reform requirements.
By exiting the sugar sector, the government aims to reduce its fiscal burden, promote competition, and meet its international reform commitments. If implemented as planned, the changes will transform the country’s sugar industry, making it more competitive on both the domestic and international fronts.
The proposed reforms are expected to reshape the landscape of the country’s sugar market, with significant implications for farmers, mills, and consumers alike.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
According to a comprehensive plan, a copy of which is available with Business Recorder, the deregulation move will hand control of the sugar industry over to market forces, ending decades of state intervention. The decision follows the earlier deregulation of the wheat sector, with sugar now set to follow suit.
The plan outlines a series of wide-ranging reforms aimed at eliminating government oversight.
READ MORE: Draft policy on deregulating sugar sector finalised
Under the new policy, farmers will have complete freedom to cultivate sugarcane, without any restrictions on the varieties they grow or the zones in which they plant.
They will also have the liberty to sell their sugarcane to any sugar mill or use it to produce jaggery, free from government control.
The government will no longer regulate sugarcane prices. The document reveals that the existing minimum support price mechanism will be abolished, with prices instead determined by market demand and supply. This marks a fundamental shift in agricultural pricing policy, moving towards a market-driven approach.
As part of the deregulation, the government has also pledged to eliminate subsidies on sugar exports and remove the current export quotas on sugar mills.
In a major liberalisation measure, the longstanding ban on both sugar imports and exports will be lifted, allowing for free trade in the commodity.
The plan further proposes lifting the ban on the establishment of new sugar mills across the country.
Mills that have been closed for up to eight months will now be allowed to import raw materials. The deregulation will also grant sugar mills the freedom to process both locally grown sugarcane and imported raw sugar.
In an effort to boost industry capacity, sugar mills will be permitted to import raw sugar, refine it locally, and re-export the refined product. This is expected to increase capacity utilisation and enhance exports of refined sugar.
While the plan aims to reduce government involvement in the sector, safeguards for farmers have been proposed. A list of prohibited sugarcane varieties will be issued before each sowing season to prevent the cultivation of low-yield or suboptimal varieties, helping to protect farmers’ interests.
Officials believe this measure will strike a balance between encouraging market freedom and ensuring that farmers are not left vulnerable to the consequences of unregulated cultivation.
The reform package signals a major shift towards a market-driven agricultural economy, in line with the IMF’s structural reform requirements.
By exiting the sugar sector, the government aims to reduce its fiscal burden, promote competition, and meet its international reform commitments. If implemented as planned, the changes will transform the country’s sugar industry, making it more competitive on both the domestic and international fronts.
The proposed reforms are expected to reshape the landscape of the country’s sugar market, with significant implications for farmers, mills, and consumers alike.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
hydrabadi_arab
Trusted Member
Good, another important reform to reduce elite sugar mafia influence.
Broader Economic Cost: "Elite Capture"
The financial damage extends beyond direct subsidies. A 2021 UNDP report, cited recently by the IMF, estimated that "elite privileges" for Pakistan's corporate sector—with the sugar industry being a primary beneficiary—cost the economy roughly $4.7 billion annually.In the sugar sector, this "privilege" manifests as:
- Price Manipulation: Cartels hoard stock to artificially spike prices. In 2021, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) imposed a PKR 44 billion fine on sugar mills for cartelization (though recovery has been stalled by courts).
- Cheap Credit: Politically connected mill owners often access low-interest government loans that are frequently written off or restructured.
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Cut down on the unnecessary verbal abuse and we may have a discussion. No need to show your questionable upbringing on a public internet forum.
Mighty_Dragon_Strike
Trusted Member
like, making it now, a drug cartel?!!!
Fatman17
Moderator
Source: Dawn
https://search.app/PUUHY
Punjab potato growers face collapse. Oversupply. Export subsidy wanted
https://search.app/PUUHY
Punjab potato growers face collapse. Oversupply. Export subsidy wanted
hydrabadi_arab
Trusted Member
The government of Pakistan’s decision to fully deregulate the sugar sector is a landmark step toward market-driven reforms that will reduce state intervention and promote efficiency across the agricultural value chain, experts said.
While talking to Business Recorder Arif Habib Commodities CEO Ahsan Mehanti said the government has taken a major decision to fully deregulate the sugar sector under commitments made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), aiming to end subsidies and strengthen fiscal discipline.
Under the new mechanism, the government will no longer set minimum prices for sugarcane or intervene in export decisions. Instead, market forces will determine prices and trade flows, marking a significant shift toward a free-market framework, Mehanti explained.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) Chief Organiser Ahmad Jawad said deregulation, if implemented in its true spirit, has the potential to enhance efficiency, promote competition, and improve long-term sustainability of the sector.
Under the new policy, farmers will have complete freedom to cultivate sugarcane, without any restrictions on the varieties they grow or the zones in which they plant and the government will no longer regulate sugarcane prices.
Jawad said the decision to allow farmers to sell their crop to any mill of their choice is a positive and long-overdue reform, as it empowers farmers and fosters healthy competition among sugar mills.
In a truly deregulated environment, sugar mills would be forced to offer competitive prices and improved payment terms to secure sugarcane, helping to address long-standing issues such as delayed payments and the weak bargaining position of farmers, Jawad added.
“Fair market prices for sugarcane should be set through competition among mills rather than by administrative pricing mechanisms.”
“At the same time, the government must ensure strict oversight to curb anti-competitive practices, market manipulation, or collusion that could harm farmers and consumers. Deregulation should not create a regulatory vacuum, but instead be backed by robust enforcement of competition laws and transparent market monitoring”, he said.
While talking to Business Recorder Arif Habib Commodities CEO Ahsan Mehanti said the government has taken a major decision to fully deregulate the sugar sector under commitments made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), aiming to end subsidies and strengthen fiscal discipline.
Under the new mechanism, the government will no longer set minimum prices for sugarcane or intervene in export decisions. Instead, market forces will determine prices and trade flows, marking a significant shift toward a free-market framework, Mehanti explained.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) Chief Organiser Ahmad Jawad said deregulation, if implemented in its true spirit, has the potential to enhance efficiency, promote competition, and improve long-term sustainability of the sector.
Under the new policy, farmers will have complete freedom to cultivate sugarcane, without any restrictions on the varieties they grow or the zones in which they plant and the government will no longer regulate sugarcane prices.
Jawad said the decision to allow farmers to sell their crop to any mill of their choice is a positive and long-overdue reform, as it empowers farmers and fosters healthy competition among sugar mills.
In a truly deregulated environment, sugar mills would be forced to offer competitive prices and improved payment terms to secure sugarcane, helping to address long-standing issues such as delayed payments and the weak bargaining position of farmers, Jawad added.
“Fair market prices for sugarcane should be set through competition among mills rather than by administrative pricing mechanisms.”
“At the same time, the government must ensure strict oversight to curb anti-competitive practices, market manipulation, or collusion that could harm farmers and consumers. Deregulation should not create a regulatory vacuum, but instead be backed by robust enforcement of competition laws and transparent market monitoring”, he said.
Hussain
Trusted Member
Hence why it will fail
