Pakistan targets $500m sorghum exports to China: TDAP

KARACHI: Pakistan is positioning itself to tap into China’s $2.6 billion sorghum import market, aiming to revive domestic cultivation of the drought-resistant crop and seize a $500 million export opportunity within a decade, officials said at a seminar on Thursday.

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) hosted the event in Sahiwal, bringing together agricultural scientists, trade experts, farmers and policymakers to chart a path for sorghum’s resurgence. The crop, once widely grown in Pakistan, has seen production plummet by 89 per cent since 1994, shrinking from 438,200 hectares to just 46,697 hectares by 2023, according to TDAP.

“The opportunity is clear. Revitalising sorghum cultivation, particularly in marginal lands like Thal and Cholistan, could transform this crop into an export powerhouse,” said Athar Hussain Khokhar, director-general of TDAP’s Agro Food Division. He pointed to a sharp drop in US sorghum exports to China -- down 81.8 per cent in January -- amid trade tensions, creating a supply gap that Pakistan could exploit.

China imports more than 9 million tonnes of sorghum annually, mainly for livestock feed, baijiu production, and biofuels. Beijing’s diversification away from US suppliers opens a door for Pakistan, noted Ghulam Qadir, Pakistan’s Trade & Investment Counsellor in Beijing.

Experts at the seminar stressed the need for high-yield hybrid seeds, mechanised farming, and strong extension services to boost productivity from current levels of 0.8 tonnes per hectare to the global average of 3.26 tonnes. Dr Qamar Shakil, principal scientist at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, said aligning with China’s preference for high-starch, low-tannin varieties would be key.

Participants highlighted challenges, including the absence of a sanitary and phytosanitary protocol with China’s general administration of customs, weak post-harvest infrastructure, and limited export-grade varieties. Proposals included forging technological partnerships with Chinese research bodies, modernising the supply chain, and leveraging the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for logistical advantages.

TDAP said it plans to promote Pakistan’s competitively priced sorghum at trade fairs, emphasising its 30-40 per cent cost advantage over other suppliers. “With strategic investments, sorghum could mirror the success of Pakistan’s sesame exports, potentially generating $1 billion annually within five years,” the agency noted.