Farmers urged to switch to high-value crops

Food security minister calls for improving local seed production

ISLAMABAD:

There is a need for shifting from production of low-valued crops to high-value crops in order to make agriculture sector more profitable and competitive, said Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam on Tuesday.

“Average growth rate in agriculture is far behind that of the neighbouring countries,” Imam said speaking at Institute of Policy Reforms on "Performance of Agriculture Sector".

Efficient use of fertilizer, water management, good quality seeds were the major requirements of agriculture sector development in the country, he added.

He also asked for revamping local seed production techniques in order to meet the requirements of quality seeds and reduce reliance on imported seeds.

He said despite an agrarian country, Pakistan was still importing oilseed, pulses and other crops, because of old and out-dated seed technology.

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"Our seed was not capable of providing high-yield and on the other hand genetic engineering has not brought any major change in the agriculture production," he remarked.

The minister further said that local seed industry was unable to produced desired results in agriculture output, adding that in past Punjab seed corporation was providing 33-35% need of the seed in country. He called upon the public and private sectors for putting their joint efforts to fulfil the need of good quality seed to avoid its import from other countries.

Imam said that floriculture has a very big market internationally, Holland fulfils 45 per cent demand of the world and urged the need adopt the new crops which have higher demand internationally.

He also asked for introducing pest free, virus resistant cotton seed varieties to fulfil the domestic requirements as well as to exports. “There is a strong need for bringing innovation in fruits and vegetables production and processing in order to enhance their exports,” Imam said and emphasized for taking measures to increase shelf life of fruits and vegetables for promoting their exports.

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The minister informed that the government was paying special focus on enhancing the local production of oil seed and launched olive project which was producing positive results.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2020.