PM’s steps for agri sector hailed

LAHORE: Pakistan Hi-tech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA) Chairman Shahzad Ali Malik said that Punjab alone is capable of creating an exportable surplus wheat, cotton, basmati rice and maize provided high yielding hybrid seeds are made available to the farmers.

Addressing a press conference along with Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Kashif Anwar, he welcomed the formation of National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA). He hoped that authority would live up to the aspiration of the Prime Minister to fully support the Prime Minister to stamp out seed mafia in the country.

He regretted that PHHSA has not been provided representation in NSDRA although only two crops rice and maize cultivated from hybrid seeds have increased their yield to global best. After fulfilling our local needs we are exporting rice and maize to other countries. Quality hybrid basmati rice seeds could multiply per acre yield of other crops like wheat, and cotton.

Currently, he added, seed mafia is playing havoc with agriculture sector and selling ‘Banola’ to farmers as seed which is not certified and glaringly violates rules and regulations as enshrined by the government. He said, ‘We highly appreciate the premier’s announcement importing world best quality,high yield seed for bumper agriculture production.’

Shahzad Malik hailed the appointment of renowned figure in research Dr Asif Ali Khan as first chairman NSDRA and hoped that he would achieve the desired targets set by the Prime Minister by taking all stakeholders into confidence.

He said transfer of hybrid technology and development of seed through extensive local R&D helped boost the country's rice exports by 600 percent from just $462 million to $3b in 20 years. ‘We are optimistic to cross $5bn by 2027 due to surplus production of rice,’ he added.

He said the technology of IRRI type variety of rice was transferred by the Chinese but for basmati variety research at local level is needed to check Indian inroads in long grain rice varieties. He said Basmati cultivation in India and Pakistan is located in Pakistani Punjab only. Unfortunately, we lost the market to India because they produced through research long grain and very high yield rice varieties.

He said some local seed companies have achieved some success but government support is needed in the quick approval of researched varieties. Hailing the government vision of SIFC(Special Investment Facilitation Council)and its green Pakistan initiative for bringing barren land of Cholistan under cultivation, he stressed the need for use of certified high yielding quality seed. He said this vast piece of land in Punjab desert has the potential to take Pakistan’s agriculture to the next level.

He said by replicating hybrid rice success story of Guard Agriculture Research, we can achieve import substitution of approximately $10b in cotton, wheat, edible oil, pulses etc have surplus production for export. President LCCI Kashif Anwar and Shafique Ur Rehman Senior Vice Chairman PHHSA demanded the government take PHHSA on board on all important decisions taking forums.