International seminar on Seed Production and Supply System

Pakistan is importing hybrid seed of maize, rice, potatoes and other vegetables worth billions of rupees that could be saved by strengthening seed industry and farmers cooperatives, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. He addressed an international seminar on seed production and supply system arranged by Department of Plant Breeding and Genetic and Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC ), UAF. He said that during 2011-12, seed requirement of various crops in Pakistan was 1.5 million tons. The farmers ran short of 1.14 million metric tonnes of quality seed. The cost incurred in importing seed was 3.2 billion of rupees. He said that the country was in the dire need of devising a mechanism about production of quality certified seed that was a guarantee of high productivity . He said that lack of quality seed, machinery and horse power in Pakistan was hampering the process of increment in agricultural production. He also floated the ideas of boosting up a system of Farmers Cooperatives, enabling small farmers to use the modern technology and to ensure quality inputs. He said that Departments of PBG, Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology should come with suggestion and enhance their research work on varieties of seeds. He said per acre production is very low owing to traditional way of farming. The modern trends in agriculture must be adopted to ensure the food security. PBG Chairman Prof Dr Abdus Salam said quality seed provides the foundation for the effectiveness of all inputs. He said that inferior quality seed cannot bear the required fruits. He called for the taking steps to ensure the quality seed in the field so that agricultural productivity can be boosted up manifold. ORIC Director Prof Dr Rao Asif Ali said that there is the gap between yield potential and economic yield for the most of the crops. He said several factors were held responsible for this gap. Quality seed is the important factor. US Scientist Dr Dennis Thompson said that bio technology had gained the immense importance in the modern era. He said that bio technology had replaced the traditional one. He also called for taking measures to build the quality seed industry in Pakistan. Dr Fawad Salman Director Seed Regulatory and Testing System, USDA, Gastonia, NC said that quality seed plays an important role in the agriculture sector. He linked the food security to quality seed that can increase agri production in Pakistan manifold. Dr Noorul Islam said that private and public partnership in the seed industry is essential that will bring the tangible results. Dr Tasawar Maik from Cimmyt stressed the need to producing seed experts as the country was lagging behind in the experts. We eradicated the four major cotton insects that were damaging the production and save millions of rupees by avoiding the sprays. Dr Akhtar Ali from Cimmyt said that we are providing the quality seed to 10,000 farmers. Dr Shahzad Kausar said that as many as 4,000 farmers associates are registered in US. She said that around 90 percent of farmers in Pakistan are small. Dr Zulfiqar Also spoke on the occasion.