Petal Seed: A local company that revolutionises corn production in KP

MARDAN: In order to achieve self-sufficiency in cereal crops, a daylong session was arranged in Shergarh near here on Sunday to discuss the role of the private seed industry, particularly in maize production and the challenges being faced by seed producers.

The event was organized by Petal Seed, a leading seed company in the country. Key stakeholders, including government officials, researchers and farmers attended the session to explore solutions for strengthening the private seed sector and enhancing cereal crop production in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially maize.

Secretary Agriculture Ataur Rahman was the chief guest on the occasion. Other notables present on the occasion included Dr Abdur Rauf, Director General of Agriculture Research KP, Inayatullah, Regional Director of the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department, and senior directors from various research centers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

A number of farmers from different districts of the province participated to make the event interactive and informative.At the outset, Muhammad Mushtaq Safi, Chief Executive Officer of Petal Seed Company gave a presentation over the overall situation of cereal crop and maize production in the province and the role of government as well as private sector. He spoke about the contributions and achievements of his company in research and development.

He said that Petal Seed had been instrumental in developing numerous inbred lines of corn, providing high-yielding corn hybrids to local farmers, and pioneering the spring corn segment in the province.

With a 70 percent market share in the province, Petal Seed has established itself as a dominant force in maize production, he said. The company’s hybrid seeds are not only more affordable than those of multinational corporations but also offer a 20 percent higher yield, he said.

A 10-kilogram bag of Petal Seed maize seed costs Rs10,000, which is significantly lower than the Rs21,000 charged by multinational competitors, he said. Due to its growing popularity and high-quality products, the company has effectively outperformed foreign seed companies, leading them to leave the market in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he claimed.

Participants of the event had the opportunity to witness firsthand the technological innovations employed by Petal Seed. Practical demonstrations showcased state-of-the-art seed conditioning machinery, advanced laboratory facilities, and modern agricultural techniques. Farmers attending the session expressed their satisfaction with Petal Seed’s products. They acknowledged the company’s role in enhancing their productivity and profitability.

The research directors present at the event also endorsed the quality of Petal Seed’s hybrids, citing research findings that validated their superior performance.

Secretary Agriculture, Ataur Rahman lauded the company for its high standards. He said that he had not anticipated such excellence from a local enterprise. He praised the research-driven approach of the company and recognized its significant contribution to improving farmers’ livelihoods while reducing the country’s dependence on imported seeds, ultimately conserving valuable foreign reserves.

Petal Seed’s research and development section has made significant progress in maize breeding, said Mohammad Ashfaq Safi, a senior official of the company.In 2024 alone, the company developed more than 700 inbred lines of corn and produced over 650 white and yellow corn hybrids for testing, he added. Additionally, two new hybrids have been submitted for approval by the Provincial Seed Council of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he informed.

Beyond seed production, Petal Seed has demonstrated a strong commitment to farmer support, Mushtaq Safi said. In 2024, the company provided agronomy services to 30,000 farmers across 200,000 acres of farmland in the country, he said. More than 30 training sessions were conducted for dealers, and over 700 farmers received free seed to encourage agricultural development, he added.

Mushtaq Safi said that the impact of Petal Seed’s hybrids was evident in the increased corn production throughout the province. The company’s hybrids covered more than 100,000 acres, leading to an estimated production increase of 44,000 metric tons, he said. The company aims to expand its outreach to 38,000 farmers and cover more than 250,000 acres of farmland, he said, adding that the company conducted at least 500 training sessions for farmers in 2024 alone.

Other participants at the event remarked that corn is referred to as the “Queen of Cereals.” It plays a crucial role in global food security and it is the third-largest cultivated crop worldwide and a staple food for approximately 900 million people earning less than Rs1,000 per day, they said.

In Pakistan, the importance of maize cannot be overstated as in 2023-24, corn contributed 2.6 percent to the agriculture sector’s value addition and 0.6 percent to the national GDP, one of the senior officials present on the occasion, said.With its high yield potential and nutritional benefits, maize continued to be a vital crop for ensuring food security and economic growth, he said.