MULTAN, May 3: State minister for food, agriculture and livestock Sikandar Hayat Bosan has underlined the importance of quality seed to get better per acre yield.

He was presiding over a high-level meeting of the federal and provincial agriculture departments here on Saturday. Federal agricultural development commissioner and top-ranking officials of the federal seed certification department and agricultural research institutes attended the meeting.

The minister said better per acre yield in farm sector was key to ensure prosperity to farmers and the country. He urged the agricultural scientists to speed up their quest for new varieties, which should also be disease-resistant.

He said the growers should be motivated to opt only for the certified seeds for all crops. He saw a pivotal role of the seed certification department to check sale of adulterated and uncertified seed. The department had to keep an eye on 400 public and private seed companies, he added.

Mr Bosan said the government understood the needs of the seed certification department regarding manpower and equipment to execute its duties. He also underlined the need for public-private partnership to meet the challenges of World Trade Organization regime.

The food minister hinted at enforcement of the amended federal seed act in near future to check marketing of substandard seed.

AID TO WOMEN: Participants in a seminar on Saturday stressed the need to provide legal and financial assistance to women, who have been facing problems.