Sindh sets up first speed breeding lab to boost wheat output

The Sindh government has established its first speed breeding laboratory at the Directorate General Agriculture Research Sindh in Tando Jam, aiming to modernise agricultural research and develop high-yield, climate-resilient wheat varieties.

Sindh Minister for Agriculture Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar said on Wednesday that the facility would utilise advanced speed breeding technology to develop new wheat varieties in a shorter time, with higher productivity and improved resistance to climate change.

He said the laboratory would focus on producing wheat strains capable of withstanding heat, drought and various diseases, while adapting to the diverse agro-climatic conditions across the province.

"The primary objective is to develop improved wheat varieties that mature quickly and offer higher yield per acre," the minister said, adding that this would help increase farmers' income and enhance overall agricultural output.

Minister Mahar stressed that modern agricultural research was essential to tackle the challenges posed by climate change, improve wheat production and maximise benefits for growers.