A high-level meeting on the availability and regulation of rice and cotton seeds was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain.
\nThe meeting focused on assessing the current stock of certified seeds, addressing malpractices in the seed market, and reviewing measures to improve seed quality and agricultural productivity.
\nMinister was briefed that the total cotton seed requirement for the upcoming season is 53,796 metric tons, while more than 50,000 metric tons are already available, ensuring no shortage of cotton seeds for farmers across the country.<\/p>\n
The minister expressed serious concern over the malpractices in the sale of seeds, particularly the rampant availability of non-certified seeds in the market.
\nIt was revealed that several companies are involved in facilitating the sale of such substandard seeds.
\nIn response, the ministry has banned 392 companies found guilty of distributing uncertified and fake seeds.
\nEmphasizing the importance of local seed development, the minister stated that efforts are underway to minimize the import of seeds and improve the quality of indigenously produced varieties.
\n\u201cThrough the widespread use of certified seeds, we can significantly enhance the yield per acre and bring sustainability to our agriculture sector\u201d, he added.
\nRana Tanveer expressed concerns over the smuggling of seeds from India, which is being openly advertised on social media platforms and said that the ministry is working closely with law enforcement agencies to take strict action against those involved in this illegal activity.
\nTo counter the issue of volatile price fluctuations, the minister stressed the need to boost agricultural productivity through better seed quality and farming practices.
\nHe also informed the participants that the National Seed Development Authority has been established to monitor seed quality, prevent the sale of fake seeds, and enforce stringent regulations.
\nUnder new regulations, seed companies will now be registered for a period of five years, after which extensions will be granted based on performance and compliance with quality standards.
\nThe minister reaffirmed the ministry\u2019s commitment to protecting farmers\u2019 rights, ensuring food security, and transforming the agriculture sector through transparency, regulation, and innovation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A high-level meeting on the availability and regulation of rice and cotton seeds was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain. The meeting focused on assessing the current stock of certified seeds, addressing malpractices in the seed market, and reviewing measures to improve seed quality […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":476733,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-476723","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n