Pakistan is positioning itself to tap into China’s 2.6 billion sorghum import market, aiming to revive domestic cultivation of the drought, 500 million export opportunity within a decade, officials announced at a seminar in Sahiwal. The event, organized by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), brought together agricultural scientists, trade experts, farmers, and policymakers to strategize the revival of sorghum production, which has plummeted by 89% since 1994—shrinking from 438,200 hectares to just 46,697 hectares by 2023.
Athar Hussain Khokhar, Director General of TDAP’s Agro Food Division, highlighted the opportunity, stating, “Revitalizing sorghum cultivation, particularly in marginal lands like Thal and Cholistan, could transform this crop into an export powerhouse.” He pointed to an 81.8% drop in US sorghum exports to China in January 2025 due to trade tensions, creating a supply gap Pakistan could exploit. China imports over 9 million tons annually for livestock feed, baijiu production, and biofuels.
Experts emphasized the need for high-yield hybrid seeds, mechanized farming, and improved extension services to boost productivity from the current 0.8 tons per hectare to the global average of 3.26 tons. Dr. Qamar Shakil of the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute stressed aligning with China’s demand for high-starch, low-tannin varieties.
Challenges include the lack of a sanitary protocol with Chinese customs, weak post-harvest infrastructure, and limited export-grade varieties. Proposed solutions include partnerships with Chinese research bodies, supply chain modernization, and leveraging CPEC for logistics. TDAP plans to promote Pakistan’s competitively priced sorghum at trade fairs, citing a 30-40% cost advantage. “With strategic investments, sorghum could mirror Pakistan’s sesame exports, potentially generating $1 billion annually within five years,” the agency noted.
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