Minister calls for national seed policy

ISLAMABAD:

Caretaker Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik, on Tuesday, convened a meeting to address Pakistan’s seed system. The gathering, attended by key stakeholders, aimed to evaluate challenges and future prospects.

According to a statement issued by Ministry of National Food Security, Malik called for a uniform regulatory regime across all crop varieties to enhance Pakistan’s seed system. He highlighted the impact of poor seed quality and the sale of unapproved varieties on yield. “Currently, there is a substantial 66% gap between the supply and demand for certified seeds in the country,” he said, urging the development of a National Seed Policy, strategy, and implementation plan through a consensus-driven approach, underscoring the need for public-private dialogues to optimise the seed supply system.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2023.

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