BEIJING (Kashmir English): A joint Pakistan-China research study by SBBU and YAAS has developed new disease-resistant cultivation techniques for roses and marigolds that could boost tourism and floriculture in Pakistan.
Researchers from Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University in Pakistan joined forces with Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China to develop novel agricultural practices which improve the rose and marigold production efficiency for Pakistani farmers.
In Pakistani and Kashmiri culture, these specific flowers maintain a critical position because people use them regularly during festivals together with formal ceremonies.
The Chinese Yunnan province hosted a year-long study which solved the agricultural problems that limit flower production including pest control and plant diseases. Scientists from Pakistan and China have developed affordable methods which produce disease-resistant versions of roses and marigolds.
Additionally, the team has devised a diagnostic method to identify pathogens, including fungi and viruses, that commonly afflict these flowers, along with tested strategies to mitigate their impact.
Dr Niaz Ali, an SBBU lecturer and the sole Pakistani researcher in the project, explained that these new varieties bypass the need for intricate tissue culture procedures. “They demonstrate greater resilience against infections and adapt better to Pakistan’s challenging climate and soil conditions,” he stated, two major obstacles for local flower growers.
According to Dr Ali, these innovations could significantly curb crop losses caused by viruses while boosting yields. According to him these new methods could be utilized for managing staple plant species including cotton as well as wheat and rice.
The institutions will unite to create superior flower varieties along with innovative cultivation methods, which will be introduced to Pakistan. The study aims to extract essential oils and medicinal compounds from flowers for agricultural value enhancement of the sector.
This initiative is no less than a piece of joyful news to the flower enthusiasts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), as it will certainly boost the agricultural potential for the florists and, with further work done in the department, for other crops and flowers too. This is also a great opportunity for tourism in the region to flourish.
Through joint partnership, Sino-Pak scientific collaboration demonstrates its ability to develop effective solutions which bolster farming productivity and floriculture in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir along with sustainable practices.
