Chinese high-tech agricultural machinery is at the heart of Punjab’s bold new Rs. 30 billion mechanization program, launched last week to revolutionize farming across Pakistan’s largest food-producing province. From advanced combine harvesters and rice transplanters to center-pivot irrigation systems and high-power tractors, dozens of Chinese manufacturers will supply cutting-edge equipment aimed at boosting productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and lowering labor dependency in Punjab’s fields, according to a report published by Gwadar Pro on Monday

“We’re ushering in a revolutionary transformation in Punjab’s agriculture!” stated Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif at the launch ceremony. “Today, Alhamdolillah, we launched the Hi-Tech Mechanization Bank Financing Program, a groundbreaking initiative worth Rs. 30 billion to empower our farmers with the latest agricultural technology.

This is a major leap forward in modernizing our farming practices, improving productivity, and delivering real prosperity to our Kisaan. The future of farming in Punjab, the food basket of Pakistan, has arrived.” Under the program, interest-free bank financing of up to PKR 30 million will be made available with a six-month grace period and repayment spread over five years.

The Bank of Punjab will finance up to 80 percent of machinery costs, while applicants contribute 20 percent equity upfront. Farmers, service providers and agri-entrepreneurs can apply through an online portal, provided they meet the government’s eligibility requirements. Chinese manufacturers dominate the official lists, with 27 companies supplying machinery across almost every category. Information about the companies and their products has been collected by Gwadar Pro from official program documents.

Wheat combine harvesters are beingntroduced by Huzhou Liangyi Agro Machinery, Shandong Gold Dafeng (Shandong Dafeng), Jiangsu World Agricultural Machinery (FM World), Chongqing Smart Thinker, JOTEC International (Qingdao), Changfa Agricultural Equipment, Weichai Loval and Zoomlion (authorization pending). For rice, combine harvesters from Huzhou Liangyi, Shandong Dafeng, Jiangsu World, Wuhan Wubota, Xingtai Farming First, Changfa, Weichai Loval and Zoomlion are listed, promising faster and more efficient harvests.

Rice transplanters with integrated nursery-raising machines, which is a critical innovation for labor savings and crop uniformity, are being supplied by Huzhou Liangyi and Changzhou Yuanbo with multiple variants, as well as Jiangsu World, Wuhan Wubota, Jiangsu Yong Tao, Jiangsu Dongyang (TYM), SYD (Sheng Chuan) and Zoomlion.

Baling machinery, essential to end residue burning and produce valuable fodder, will be supplied by Shandong Jianghua Machinery, Shandong Dafeng, Chongqing Smart Thinker, Jiangsu World, Shandong Huaxu (FUVOX), Synbon, Weichai Loval, Zoomlion and SYD. Silage harvesters, which is vital for livestock feed, are offered by Shandong Dafeng, Shijiazhuang Medi, Xingtai, Shandong Huaxu, JOTEC and others.

For maize, Shandong Jianghua leads with multiple cob harvester variants, alongside Shandong Dafeng, Shandong Huaxu, JOTEC and Tianren. Maize cob dryers and grain dryers are being supplied by Xingtai, Shandong Huaxu and SYD, these are technologies that stabilize grain quality and market value.

China’s irrigation expertise is also set to reshape water management. Vodar, Shandong Yihi and Shenzhen Dianyingpu are bringing in multiple models of center-pivot irrigation systems, designed to sharply improve water-use efficiency on Punjab’s vast canal-fed plains.

In orchards, Xingtai and Shandong Huaxu will supply air-blast sprayers and powered pruners to modernize fruit cultivation. High-power tractors, the backbone of mechanized farming, will be supplied by Luoyang Ruide (up to 210 HP), Weichai Loval, YTO, Zoomlion, Shandong Dafeng, Wuhan Wubota, Taian Guotal and Chongqing Smart Thinker.

These machines are expected to accelerate land preparation, transport and field operations across Punjab’s diverse agro-ecological zones.

“This is not just a subsidy programit’s a technology leap,” Dr. Saif-ur-Rehman of PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, told Gwadar Pro. “Chinese machines can cut harvest windows by weeks, reduce post-harvest losses drastically, and enable farmers to mechanize every stage from planting to irrigation to storage.”

According to Rehman, “With Punjab producing the bulk of Pakistan’s wheat and rice, hopefully this Chinese-powered mechanization push will reshape the province’s agricultural landscape, enhance national food security, and deepen Sino-Pak agricultural cooperation.”

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China