ISLAMABAD: Assisting Pakistan in agriculture technology transfer projects, South Korea has decided to expand its joint programme on certified seed potato production, and will build aeroponic greenhouses to produce 160,000 tons of certified potato seeds annually in Pakistan.

In this regard, the Korea Programme on International Agriculture (KOPIA) and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) signed on Tuesday technical cooperation projects for the construction of aeroponic greenhouses, oat and rye grass seed production and artificial insemination using Korean Holstein sexed semen in cattle.

Director of KOPIA-Pakistan Centre, Dr Cho Gyoungrae later said that additional greenhouses will be built under the Pakistan-Korea Joint Programme on Certified Potato Seed Production System to produce 160,000 tons of certified seed potato annually.He also explained results of on-going projects and future work plan of the centre.

He further said that seed production of oat and rye grass and breed improvement through efficient artificial insemination services using Korea Holstein Sexed Semen in cattle projects will be funded by Rural Development Korea for three years.

Pakistan and Republic of Korea are working jointly on agriculture technology transfer projects for seed potato production through aeroponics, fodder production, chili drying and improvement in artificial insemination in cattle. These projects are being implemented jointly by Korea Programme on International Agriculture (KOPIA)and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2023