DNA

ISLAMABAD, July 15 : Chinese technology-based sowing of maize and soybean under intercropping system for next season has almost completed at Koont Research Farm, Chakwal, Gwadar Pro reported on Wednesday.

“In the coming month’s first week, we will complete other demonstrations’ sowing work,” said Muhammad Ali Raza, the post-doc of Sichuan Agricultural University (SAU) who is promoting the advanced Chinese agricultural technology in Pakistan.

The maize-soybean intercropping system just achieved bumper harvest. In Bahawalpur, the yields of soybean and maize reach 1,304 kg/ha and 8,596 kg/ha respectively.

Meanwhile, the total benefits substantially expand because of soybean’s high economic returns as it can be processed for extracting oil or manufacturing feed, etc. Under the intercropping system, farmers can grow soybean without curbing the cultivation of maize.

Next season many new demonstrations are going to be built in more places including Vehari, Rawalpindi and Pakpatan in cooperation with PMAS-Arid Agriculture University (AAUR), National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) and Rawalpindi Agriculture Department, etc.

Besides Ali, NARC Senior Scientific Officer Dr. Ashiq Saleem, AAUR Professor Dr. Muhammad Ansar, Deputy Director of Agriculture Department Dr. Zameer Kiani will be in charge of these demonstrations. The total area of demonstrations will reach about 11 hectares with an increase of nearly 221%.

In addition, according to Sajad Hussain, another SAU student who is looking after the demonstration in Layyah, high temperature resistant cultivars of soybean have been found out. Moreover, maize-soybean based silage demonstration will be included in next plan.

The Chinese professor Yang Wenyu from SAU will continue to help with the technology, varieties and machinery. Besides the assistance related to this intercropping tech, by the year of 2020, 47 Pakistani students of AAUR have got scholarships from SAU under the MoU signed during Prof. Yang’s visit to Pakistan with Ali in 2018.

It should be noted that this intercropping system shows excellent ecological sustainability. Due to the fixation of nitrogen by soybean, next season’s crops will enjoy better soil. “If farmers follow this technology, they can produce soybean easily for times in one year and get fertile soil.

After some years, it will reduce the application rate of artificial nitrogen application,” Ali explained about this eco-friendly beneficial cycle, the report added.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan — The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at a video-conference held today again separately touched upon the epidemiological situation in the country.

Speaking about the ongoing efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the head of state noted in particular:

– As you know, due to the growing number of cases of coronavirus infection in our country, we had to strengthen quarantine conditions.

Since, frankly, the whole world today is at war with this invisible enemy.

Every state, every nation that enters into this struggle takes all measures to protect its country, its population. First of all, this threat is screened, iron discipline is established.

Life and work are put on high alert. Today we are in this situation.

The Republican Special Commission regularly analyzes the situation and takes all measures to contain the infection.

We have all the reserves and opportunities to deal with this disease.

Most importantly, our dedicated and courageous medical workers faithfully and steadfastly carry out their work.

I repeat: we must learn to live and work in a pandemic. Because life goes on. It requires us to act reasonably, with patience and unbending discipline.

We ourselves see that with the least loss a pandemic leaves the country in which medical culture and discipline are strong.

We must also follow this path. Of course, over the past 4 months, our people have learned a lot. We have formed a certain experience.

The analysis requires the use of new strategies for the prevention of coronavirus infection, early detection of the disease and the implementation of therapeutic and observational measures for patients in whom the disease is asymptomatic and mild.

The Republican Special Commission must promptly develop and implement all necessary measures in this direction.

To this end, [Deputy Prime Minister Behzod] Musaev and [Health Minister Alisher] Shadmanov review the current test analysis procedures and develop a system that is convenient for the population.

Another important issue is that local Kengashes in regions, cities and districts, local authorities and authorities should carefully analyze the situation in the entrusted territory and, in agreement with the Republican Commission, strengthen or soften quarantine rules.

Taking all precautions, we should whenever possible launch production facilities, increase productivity.

For example, in rural areas the population does not live as densely as in cities. There are territories where the disease has not spread.

In these places today everyone is busy with field work, they work tirelessly.

In such areas, we need to create all conditions so that rural workers can work freely and deliver their products to consumers. Because one day of summer feeds ten days of winter.

It is no secret that starting this year the problem of food in the world will be a decisive issue.

First of all, counteraction against coronavirus, and ensuring the well-being of people, strengthening peace and stability in society, depend on this.

That is why we always need a three-month supply of food.

Taking this opportunity, we express our deep gratitude to our hardworking farmers and dehkans, enterprising gardeners and all our compatriots who are selflessly working in the fields today. We wish them strength and a plentiful harvest.

At the same time, depending on the situation, we should fully comply with quarantine requirements, where necessary.

We all must tolerate for the sake of the health of our family, our children, respected seniors and strictly observe the quarantine rules.

A little patience, and these days are soon over.

“Patience is the key to achieving what you want,” they say among our people.

I am sure that our people, who carefully think over and take actions with characteristic patience and courage, will worthily overcome the current trials and achieve their noble goals.

DNA

TASHKENT: Representatives of the Institute of Strategic and Interregional Studies (ISMI) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan took part in an online expert conference on the topic: “Sino-Uzbek comprehensive strategic partnership in a new context,” correspondent reports.

The event, organized with the support of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Uzbekistan, was attended by the leaders and leading experts of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Institute of East European, Russian and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Department for European-Central Asian Studies of China Institute of International Studies and the Institute of Euraisan Studies of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Cooperation issues in countering the COVID-19 pandemic and overcoming its consequences, prospects for further strengthening China – Uzbekistan cooperation in new conditions, the main areas of cooperation within the framework of Belt and Road Initiative were considered at the event.

 Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sanjar Valiyev noted that during the fight against the epidemiological crisis, Uzbekistan and China showed their best qualities, being responsible states with effective governance, able to mobilize all the important resources for the health of their citizens.

He emphasized that the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of China Xi Jinping discussed in detail, during the telephone conversation on May 7 this year, further steps to strengthen a comprehensive strategic partnership of a multifaceted nature.

Based on the results of these agreements and on the initiatives of the heads of state, joint work has been intensified to minimize the negative consequences of the pandemic and to seek new opportunities for mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation.

First of all, this is an increase in volumes and the achievement of a balanced mutual trade, strengthening of industrial cooperation and implementation of innovative projects, creation of favorable conditions for the growth of freight traffic, promotion of humanitarian programs.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Uzbekistan, Jiang Yan, emphasized that in a global pandemic, by uniting forces and helping each other, the two countries served as a model for building a community of a unified fate for mankind. According to her, Tashkent was among the first to support China by sending humanitarian aid at the beginning of the pandemic.

In turn, Beijing from the beginning of the spread of infection in Uzbekistan has sent to the Uzbek side over 41 tons of humanitarian supplies, shared its experience in countering COVID-19. All this, as the diplomat noted, became evidence of the high level interstate relations and the establishment of strong friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

IEERCAS CASS Director, Sun Zhuangzhi, noted the important role of Uzbekistan in implementation of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, the high demand for proposals forwarded by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to develop cooperation within this format for Uzbekistan and Central Asia.

The Chinese expert focused on such priority areas of cooperation as development of new investment projects, intensification of construction of transport corridors through Central Asia, creation of a stable financing system and strengthening humanitarian cooperation.

In his opinion, through the implementation of Belt and Road projects, the parties will be able to restore the economic growth in the coming years to increase the trade turnover, build new chains of industrial cooperation and diversify cargo transportation routes.

At the same time, Director of the Department for European-Central Asian Studies of China Institute of International Studies, Li Ziguo, drew attention to the deterrent effect of the pandemic on the dynamics of development of Uzbekistan – China relations. According to the expert, due to restrictive measures, the supply chain of goods has been violated, the implementation of joint projects has been suspended, the procedure for export and import has been complicated.

In this regard, he called for flexible joint actions at this stage in implementation of cooperation in transport and logistics, ensuring food security, development of medicine and public healthcare, accelerated digitalization of economic sectors, especially the trade and service delivery systems.

According to the Director and Research Professor of the Institute of Euraisan Studies of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Ding Xiaoxing, one must also remember to contain security threats. Thus, due to the pandemic in Central Asia, the total number of infected reached 80 thousand people, which complicates the health situation in the region.

In general, the dialogue platform allowed to analyze the best ways to eliminate the consequences of COVID-19 by joint efforts. China and Uzbekistan will pay special attention to the exchange of experience in implementing effective methods of treating infection, taking anti-epidemic measures, developing and manufacturing medical equipment, test systems, drugs and vaccines.