Majority of farmers do not use certified seeds

Growers asked to adopt modern techniques.


Shamsul Islam April 11, 2012

FAISALABAD:


About 92% of farmers do not use certified seeds, leading to low agricultural productivity and they need to shun traditional ways of farming and adopt modern techniques to achieve food security in the country.


University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad said this while talking to a delegation of National Institute of Management here on Wednesday.

He said effective use of improved seeds could give higher agricultural production and increase income of farmers, which would have a positive impact on rural poverty.

He pointed out that the country had a livestock population of 50 million but most of them were underfed that needed attention of the farmers and government alike.

Talking about water issue, he called for building water reservoirs keeping in view the fact that dams stored only 13 million acre feet (MAF) of water whereas the flow of water was 105 MAF.

“We are releasing nine times more water into sea than our storage capacity,” he said and stressed the need for building water reservoirs in a bid to combat challenges of flood.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2012.

COMMENTS (2)

HAS | 11 years ago | Reply

@ harry stone - i am a farmer based near islamabad. your statement about farmers wanting seeds for free is factually wrong. where can we get the certified seed ? please elaborate if u know ...and if you dont about this issue then please dont comment. i live near simly dam near islamabad

Harry Stone | 11 years ago | Reply

The farmers do not want to pay for better seeds that would increase productivity. They want them for free...

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