ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan has presented a draft policy for the seed industry.
Addressing the National Seed Policy Workshop organised with the support of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation, Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan said that the Seed (Amendment) Bill 2014 had already been cleared by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research. He hoped the assembly would pass the bill in its session starting next week. The Plant Breeders’ Right Bill had also been submitted to the Cabinet for approval, he added.
Bosan said that the modern agriculture is based on innovative crop variety development complemented with systematic quality seed supply to the farmers. It is also important to understand that efficiency of other farm inputs by and large depends on the quality of seed a farmer uses for its crop production. He said that it was a commendable effort on the part of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research as well as the sub-regional office of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for Central Asia for holding National Seed Policy Workshop at Islamabad.
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 minister also said that after attaining a consensus on National Seed Policy, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research would have a separate session with the representatives of farming community in order to take them on board.
Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department Director General Dr Shakeel Ahmed Khan also addressed the participants and said that as a result of this work shop National Policy on seed based on latest technology and genetics would be formulated.
