Dr. Noor Muhammad, a postdoctoral scientist from Balochistan, has spent four years at a Chinese cotton research lab in Anyang, Henan province, researching how cotton can withstand salt stress. This threat is all too familiar to farmers in Pakistan, where cotton accounts for over 60 percent of export earnings and supports millions of families.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, lies outside the traditional cotton belt but has pioneered globally certified organic cotton production. Dr. Noor’s research could accelerate this by developing salt-tolerant cotton varieties for marginal lands.
Advanced Research Techniques at ICR-CAAS
Dr. Noor works at the Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICR-CAAS), a national institute specializing in cotton since 1957. His research uses gene expression analysis, enzymatic studies, and bioinformatics to understand plant stress responses and develop resilient crop varieties, according to a report by CEN on Friday.
Dr. Noor moved to China in 2017 for a Master’s in Life Sciences at Southwest University of Science and Technology, followed by a Ph.D. in Plant Biology and Agronomy. Over nine years, he gained academic expertise and appreciation for China’s agricultural innovations.
Chinese Technologies for Pakistan’s Farming Sector
Dr. Noor contends that Chinese agricultural technologies could help combat climate change, which threatens Pakistan’s farming sector. He emphasizes water management, citing China’s drip irrigation under plastic mulch, which saves 30 to 50 percent of water and revolutionized cotton production in Xinjiang. He also highlights salt-tolerant and drought-tolerant crop varieties, protected cultivation, greenhouse technology, digital agriculture, e-commerce platforms, and agricultural mechanization.
Regarding mechanization, he notes China has nearly fully mechanized cotton harvesting, and affordable Chinese machinery for planting, spraying, and harvesting could significantly enhance productivity.
Partnerships and the Science and Technology Backyard Model
Seeing CPEC 2.0 as a critical opening for Balochistan, where agricultural modernization is central, Dr. Noor seeks partnerships to transfer knowledge, technology, and germplasm. His long-term goal is to advance food security, alleviate poverty, and promote sustainable development through evidence-based practices.
He highlights China’s “science and technology backyard” model, a tripartite framework integrating agricultural research, postgraduate training, and rural development services. He believes this model could be adapted to Pakistan to bridge the gap between scientists and farmers.
