Opportunities for Agricultural Trade in the Context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

The CPEC provides new avenues for agricultural trade between Pakistan and China. In this context, this study aims to explore the opportunities for trade between Pakistan, China, and the Central Asian States. To this end, the study analyzed the structure of agricultural exports and imports of Pakistan with China and the Central Asian States. China’s share in the production of agricultural commodities is dominant in the world. China’s per acre yield of pulses has the highest position in the world. The structure of Pakistan imports revealed that Pakistan spends billions of rupees on the imports of agricultural commodities. China’s import structure revealed that it spends billions of dollars on the imports of maize, wheat, rice, horticultural fruits, and vegetables. The Central Asian states also import wheat, meat products, agricultural inputs, and horticultural commodities from neighboring countries. The export/import volume of China with the Central Asian states has an almost equal share. However, the results indicate that there is a large gap between China and Pakistan’s export and import shares. China has a higher share of imports while Pakistan has low export share with China. The study recommends to the policymakers that the volume of export should be increased with China as well as the Central Asian states.

Evaluation of New Okra Cultivars for Bare Ground and Plasticulture Production

Several okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) cultivars are now available as alternatives to the standards `Clemson Spineless' (open pollinated) and `Annie Oakley II' (hybrid). Based on the results of four trials involving 20 cultivars, `Mita', `Spike', `Green Best' and `North & South' should be added to the list of recommended cultivars for Alabama and Florida. The experimental `SOK 601' should also be included on that list, but on a for trial basis since it was evaluated only at one location. Other cultivars may perform well at specific locations. Differences among cultivars were also found for ease of harvest. `North & South' and `Baby Bubba' were the easiest and most difficult cultivars to harvest, respectively. The economic feasability of selecting a hybrid cultivar over an open-pollinated one and using plasticulture instead of bare ground was also examined in this study. Using hybrid seeds resulted in an average yield increase per harvest of 92 lb/acre (103 kg·ha-1), which exceeded the estimated 75 lb/acre yield (84 kg·ha-1) increase necessary to offset the additional cost of hybrid seeds. For reasons ranging from improved weed control, increased nutrient and water use efficiency, and double cropping, an increasing interest exists to produce okra with plasticulture, instead of bare ground as done traditionally. The average yield increase per harvest due to plasticulture over bare ground production was 196 lb/acre (220 kg·ha-1). Based on this number, it would take three harvests to produce the 540 lb/acre (605 kg·ha-1) yield increase necessary to offset the additional costs due to plasticulture.

Production Function, Institutional Credit and Agricultural Development in Pakistan

This study, based on the time-series data covering the period from 1956 to 1986, estimates production function in the agricultural sector of Pakistan. The strategy for agricultural development in the country has been based on greater utilization of "high pay-off' low-cost technology. The government advanced loans through financial institutions to make it possible for the farmers to acquire this technology. Despite the infusion of seed-fertilizer technology, per acre yield of major crops like wheat, rice, cereal and sugar-cane in Pakistan is lower than in most LDCs in the region. Therefore, it is concluded that the use of present technology has reached a plateau and it is time to look for additional inputs for improvement in productivity.

Estimation of Elasticities of Substitution for CES and VES Production Functions using Firm-level Data for Food-processing Industries in Pakistan

This study, based on the time-series data covering the period from 1956 to 1986, estimates production function in the agricultural sector of Pakistan. The strategy for agricultural development in the country has been based on greater utilization of "high pay-off' low-cost technology. The government advanced loans through financial institutions to make it possible for the farmers to acquire this technology. Despite the infusion of seed-fertilizer technology, per acre yield of major crops like wheat, rice, cereal and sugar-cane in Pakistan is lower than in most LDCs in the region. Therefore, it is concluded that the use of present technology has reached a plateau and it is time to look for additional inputs for improvement in productivity.

COMPARATIVE GROWTH AND YIELD EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT HIGH YIELDING WHEAT VARIETIES UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS OF ATTOCK.

The experiment was conducted at the farmer’s field Attock during the year 2015-16. Six wheat Varieties i.e Aas 2011, Bars 2009, Narc 2009, Chakwal 50 and Pakistan 13 were evaluated for yield performance. Results revealed that all the varieties differ significantly in yield parameters. The varieties Narc 2009 and Pakistan 13 were best performer with 36.34mds/acre and 36.14mds/acre yield respectively and are recommended for cultivation in rainfed conditions of Attock District.

Effect of Lime and Phosphate-bearing Materials on Sugarcane Yields

Data are reported here from a field experiment with sugarcane on acid Lares clay located in the humid area of Puerto Rico, at the Corozal Agricultural Experiment Substation. The effect of lime and of two sources of phosphorus fertilizers was tested. The experiment included superphosphate and hyperphosphate, each with or without lime, at four rates: 0, 50, 125, and 200 pounds P2O5 to the acre. Lime was used at the rate of 4 tons to the acre. Yield data are reported for a plant crop of sugarcane and for two succeeding ratoon crops. No significant differences were obtained attributable to either type or rate of phosphorus fertilizer when added to the acid soil. Liming caused significant increases in sugarcane yields in both ratoon crops and in the total of the three crops, amounting to 11.3 tons of sugarcane per acre. The highest significant increase of 24.3 tons of sugarcane per acre was obtained when lime was added with 200 pounds P2O5 per acre as superphosphate.

INCREASE IN SEED PRODUCTION FROM NITROGEN FERTILIZATION OF NATIVE BEARDLESS WHEATGRASS

Nitrogen fertilization greatly increased pure seed yield of native beardless wheatgrass, Agropyron inerme, where the mean annual precipitation was 11 inches in the South Okanagan area of British Columbia. In one experiment in 1959, ammonium nitrate broadcast at 450 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre increased seed yield from 3.5 pounds per acre for the unfertilized plots to 17.5 pounds, a maximum increase of 400 per cent. One hundred and fifty pounds of actual nitrogen per acre increased seed yield 330 per cent and the 50-pound rate increased the yield of seed 140 per cent. At two other locations in 1961, unfertilized plots yielded 18.8 pounds of seed per acre; 150 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre increased seed yield to 59.2 pounds and the 50-pound treatment produced 46.5 pounds of seed per acre. Yield increases resulted from increases in spike production because weight of seed per spike was not increased by fertilization. Germination was not affected and per cent pure seed was slightly increased by the nitrogen treatments. This increase in seed production is considered favorable for the restoration of preferred species on depleted native range.

INCREASE IN YIELD AND PROTEIN CONTENT OF NATIVE BLUEBUNCH WHEATGRASS FROM NITROGEN FERTILIZATION

A native, bluebunch wheatgrass stand on a Brown soil in the South Okanagan district of British Columbia with a mean precipitation of 11 inches has shown striking response to nitrogen fertilization. With applications of ammonium nitrate broadcast annually at rates of 0 to 60 lb. of actual nitrogen per acre, yield was increased from 640 to 1060 lb. of dry matter in 1957 and from 678 to 1725 lb in 1958. Protein content increased from 3.9 to 6.2 per cent and protein production per acre from 27 to 107 lb. Ground cover of Agropyron spicatum increased from 4.6 to 6.8 per cent, of Poa secunda from 2.0 to 2.7 per cent. The number of culms of Agropyron spicatum per hundred-point sample increased from 9.8 to 188.2.