CPEC is fertile ground for food security

On a summer morning in Pakistan, a farmer gazes at the sky, contemplating whether to irrigate his wheat field. An unexpected heat wave, erratic rainfall, shortage of water or a pest outbreak can quickly turn a promising crop into a financial loss.

Thousands of kilometers away, Chinese farmers face different challenges, but the underlying question is the same: how can countries ensure reliable access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food in an increasingly uncertain world?

This question takes food security beyond agriculture to the level of national security. Agriculture influences inflation, livelihoods, social stability, trade balances and the resilience of economies. For China and Pakistan, agricultural cooperation should be more than just a facet of bilateral trade. It can be a strategic pillar of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor 2.0, embodying their shared interest in development and stability.

But there are several challenges to overcome. First, food security is increasingly vulnerable to risks beyond the farm. Climate change is altering rainfall, increasing heat stress and intensifying floods and droughts. Pakistan's experience with catastrophic floods and recurring water stress demonstrates how quickly agricultural disruption can escalate into an economic crisis.

Despite achieving record grain production, China prioritizes food security as a strategic concern, emphasizing vigilance over complacency. The lesson is clear: food security cannot rely solely on favorable weather or short-term production levels.

The second problem is the inefficient use of agricultural resources in Pakistan. The country has significant agricultural potential, but the low level of mechanization, poor seed quality, inefficient forms of irrigation, and inadequate post-harvest management, storage and extension services limit productivity and farmers' incomes.

China's expertise in agricultural mechanization, high-yield seed varieties, water-saving irrigation, digital agriculture and rural infrastructure offers valuable lessons. The objective should not be to copy China's agricultural model, but to adapt relevant technologies to Pakistan's unique conditions, converting technology transfer into productivity gains and higher rural livelihoods.

Third, food security does not end when a crop leaves the field. Inadequate storage, transportation, processing and cold-chain infrastructure can lead to significant loss in value. The CPEC can evolve from a connectivity project into a food-security corridor.

China's experience in cold-chain logistics, agricultural processing and modern supply chains can complement Pakistan's agricultural base, reducing post-harvest losses, enhancing value addition and boosting agricultural exports.

In turn, Chinese consumers and businesses could gain access to a reliable source of agricultural commodities.

Fourth, agricultural cooperation requires joint institutions and long-term knowledge exchange. Encouragingly, the foundation of such cooperation already exists. The Joint Working Group on Agricultural Cooperation under CPEC has expanded to technology, mechanization, seed development, processing, fisheries and capacity building.

In April 2025, the two sides agreed to establish an Agricultural Technology Working Group, furthering joint projects. This institutional framework provides an opportunity to develop an integrated bilateral food-security strategy.

But these challenges also present an opportunity for mutually beneficial investment. With land, labor, diverse agro-climatic zones and proximity to major consumer markets, Pakistan is an attractive partner. Chinese companies bring technology, capital, management expertise and extensive experience in agricultural value chains. Recent agreements on agricultural development and trade regulations demonstrate this potential. These arrangements lay the regulatory foundation for expanded agricultural trade and investment.

The opportunity now is to make food security a central pillar of CPEC 2.0. A China-Pakistan food security partnership could focus on six areas: climate-smart agriculture, modern seed systems, efficient irrigation, mechanization, cold-chain and agro-processing infrastructure, and joint research and training. Demonstration farms could test technologies tailored to local conditions, ensuring measurable outcomes and commercial sustainability.

Such cooperation would benefit both nations.

Pakistan's agricultural exports could become more competitive in China, while Chinese enterprises could engage in processing, logistics, machinery, seeds, biotechnology and smart agriculture.

Pakistan could shift from exporting raw commodities toward higher-value processed products, while China could diversify its agricultural supply chains. The relationship would therefore be based on complementary capabilities and shared economic interests.

Ultimately, food security is about people, not statistics.

A stable food supply protects household purchasing power, supports rural employment and reduces vulnerability to economic and climate shocks.

For Pakistan, stronger food security reinforces economic resilience; for China, deeper agricultural cooperation with a neighbor diversifies supply chains and presents new investment opportunities.

China-Pakistan cooperation should not be measured only by the kilometers of roads, megawatts of electricity or volume of trade, but also by the productivity of farmers, the reduction of food loss, the income from agro-processing and the resilience of communities.

If food security is national security, then cooperation on food security is cooperation on shared prosperity and regional stability.

CPEC 2.0 provides China and Pakistan with an opportunity to build not just a corridor through which goods move, but a resilient agricultural ecosystem for technology, knowledge and investment.

The writer is a research associate at the Centre of Excellence for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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