BEIJING, China: Hafiz Muhammad Usman, a post-doctoral fellow at Guizhou University, embodies the spirit of gratitude as he brings advanced agricultural technologies learned in China back to his homeland, Pakistan.
Guizhou University’s “Ph.D. Village Chief” program, initiated in 2017, extends opportunities for doctoral students, postgraduates, and undergraduates to apply their scientific research achievements to rural agricultural development, particularly in their hometowns. This year marked the program’s expansion to include foreign participants, with five post-doctoral fellows from Pakistan and India joining.
Usman, who obtained his doctorate from Huazhong Agricultural University in 2017, continues his research journey at Guizhou University, focusing on fungal disease management in pepper production. Collaborating with the research team, Usman conducts experiments to develop effective chemical alternatives to control drug-resistant fungal populations, thereby enhancing pepper yields.
During his winter vacation in Pakistan, Usman organized seminars and provided on-site training to over 500 local farmers, sharing sustainable methods to combat plant diseases and pests. Similarly, Maqsood Ahmed, another postdoctoral fellow, leverages his agricultural expertise to address local challenges in Pakistan, promoting eco-friendly pest control techniques learned in China.
The techniques advocated by Ahmed, including biological control and the use of microbial pesticides, emphasize environmentally sustainable approaches to pest management, aligning with global efforts towards ecological conservation.
The impact of such initiatives extends beyond borders, fostering international cooperation in agricultural development. Pan Xuejun, Dean of the College of Agriculture at Guizhou University, highlights the program’s role in enhancing agricultural techniques exchange with foreign research teams and contributing to the Belt and Road partners’ agricultural development.
With over 16,000 participants to date, the “Ph.D. Village Chief” program not only enriches academic experiences but also plays a pivotal role in poverty-alleviation efforts in Guizhou Province, underscoring the transformative power of collaborative agricultural innovation.
