New seed law might create foreign monopoly

Could put livelihood of small-scale farmers in jeopardy.

HYDERABAD: The National Assembly’s (NA) enactment of the Pakistan Amended Seed Act, 2014, has rattled the farmers’ community, who fear being flooded by foreign Genetically Modified (GM) seeds.

The NA passed the bill on March 17, although it is yet to be promulgated after the senate and the presidential approval, as the federal government appears determined to sail it through these stages.

“The parliament will approve it during next three months. The new law will allow foreign companies to invest in the seed sector of the country,” said Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan.

“The law has been passed to pander to the wishes of multinationals,” said Mohammad Boota Sarwar, a former official of the Punjab Seed Corporation and an expert of locally-produced seeds.

“This can potentially create a monopoly for foreign companies who will exclusively import hybrid and GM seeds to the Pakistani market.”

Once enforced, it will be made mandatory for growers to buy seeds from a licensed company or its dealer. Moreover, the old practice by local farmers can bring penalty and even imprisonment.

“It will be an injustice to small-scale farmers who use informal seed marketing as a livelihood,” said Sarwar.

Sindh Chamber of Agriculture General Secretary Nabi Bux Sathio said the enforcement of this law will also be a violation of the 18th Amendment.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2015.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.