1.5m tons of seeds is the requirement of Pakistani farmers. PHOTO: FILE
Speaking at a seminar on seed production and supply system arranged by the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics and the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC) of UAF on Friday, Khan said during 2011-12, the seed requirement for various crops in Pakistan was 1.5 million tons.
“Farmers were short of 1.14 million tons of quality seed. The cost of importing seeds was Rs3.2 billion,” he added.
Khan said the country was in dire need of devising a mechanism for production of quality seeds that guaranteed high productivity.
Professor Dr Abdus Salam said quality seed provided the foundation for the effectiveness of all inputs. “Inferior quality seed is not capable of providing high-quality fruits,” he said.
ORIC Director Dr Rao Asif Ali observed that there was a gap between the potential yield and the actual yield of most crops. “Several factors were responsible for this gap but quality seed is an important factor.”
US scientist Dr Dennis Thompson pointed out that biotechnology had gained immense importance in the modern era and these methods should be employed in Pakistan for improving the seed quality.
Dr Fawad Salman, Director Seed Regulatory and Testing System, USDA, Gastonia, NC, said quality seed played an important role in the agricultural sector. He linked food security to quality seed.
Dr Noorul Islam stressed that private and public partnership in the seed industry was essential.
Dr Akhtar Ali said they were providing quality seed to 10,000 farmers.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 28th, 2013.
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