Update: Ministry drafts policy for seed industry

Proposes steps for improving quality and quantity of seeds.

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Food Security and Research presented a draft policy for the seed industry at a workshop organised with the support of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation.

The policy proposes measures for improving the quality and quantity of seed for various crops. It also underlines the need for creating an enabling environment for all stakeholders in the seed industry.

Seed is a strategic input for the agriculture sector, but current supply is mostly of poor quality and satisfies only 23% of the country’s needs.

Pakistan’s seed industry includes 760 private-sector companies including five multinationals and employs approximately 50,000 people.

While local availability of certified seed for wheat, rice, cotton and maize is satisfactory, most of the needs for vegetables, fodder and oilseed crops are met by imports.



The sector faces a number of challenges, from insufficient supply of early-generation seed by the public sector to out-dated laws limiting the role of the private sector.

Also, there is a lack of skilled professionals and poor collaboration between the public and private-sector players.

The workshop would serve as a forum to gather views and recommendations of key stakeholders in the draft National Seed Policy.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2014.

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