Seed failures spark accountability debate

KARACHI:

In Pakistan's agriculture sector, discussions on farmer welfare typically centre around support prices, subsidies, water scarcity, climate change, and technology access. However, a critical issue remains largely unaddressed: accountability when agricultural inputs fail to deliver promised results.

This concern has intensified with widespread complaints from maize growers about the performance of certain hybrid seed varieties this season. Farmers have shared photos and videos on social media questioning whether actual yields matched aggressive marketing claims.

Aamer Hayat Bhandara, Founder Agriculture Republic, said that Pakistan's maize sector had grown significantly over two decades, driven by hybrid seeds from multinational companies, supporting poultry, feed, and food industries. While these technologies have boosted yields, they have also increased farmers' dependence on expensive inputs.

According to Bhandara, farmers shoulder nearly all the risk, investing in land preparation, seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation, labour, and harvesting. When crops fail, they absorb the losses alone.

Complaints are often dismissed by citing farmer error, poor practices, weather, or climate factors, with little impartial investigation into whether inputs met advertised standards.