June 04, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 18, 1428

One of the many reasons for low crop yield in our country compared to world averages and wide gap between potential and the actual yield is sowing impure, uncertified and unapproved seed.

The world per hectare average yield for wheat, rice, cotton and maize is around 2,720 kg, 3,916 kg 1,788 kg and 4,343 kg respectively. In Pakistan, the per hectare average yield is 2,262 kg, 2,882 kg , 1867 kg and 1,768 kg respectively.

Quality seed is vital for boosting crop productivity and improving performance of farming sector. Largely, growers don’t consider soil type, soil nutrient status and weather conditions at the time of selection of seed. Without using certified seed, growers cannot increase the yield. In our country, seed selection is not in accordance with soil type and ecological conditions. This could also be due to non-availability of certified seed of cultivars according to ecological conditions.

The seed supply system is susceptible to many problems and weaknesses. Since neither the seed importers nor the imported seed varieties are properly registered in the country. As a result uncertified /unapproved seed is distributed among growers. Distribution of unapproved Bt cotton seed on large scale by unregistered distributors is a better illustration.

An impure, dented, shrivelled and small seed gives poor germination. Moreover, weak seed could not absorb the adverse effects of heat, rain or pesticides. It is easily attacked by pathogens. Weak plants could be easily lodged with slight wind.

Therefore, efforts should be made to increase agricultural productivity through revamping of the seed supply system. This would also contribute to protecting the farmers' rights due to timely access to quality seeds. Fake and sub-standards seed results in frequent crop failures that contributes to lowering of farmers’ income.

Seed regulation scheme needs to be enacted in letter and in spirit to ensure steady supply of quality seed. Seed and seed supplying-agents should follow international seed testing standards. The Federal Seed Certification Authority must be aligned to the seed requirements of the farming community and should control the escalating business of fake seed, declining quality of certified seeds and frequent crop failures due to poor quality seeds.

It is important to know repercussions of the WTO regime in relation to quality and cost of growing crops. To maintain quality of crop produce, need is to disseminate quality seed to the growers. It is, therefore, imperative to develop formal national seed policy envisaging sound future seed supply system in the country. The better results could be obtained by including private sector in developing domestic seed industry.

Yield gap between potential and actual is wide that needs to be bridged. Main reason for this gap is genetic-cum agronomic factors. Seed of crop cultivars is not evolved in accordance with agro-ecological requirements. Addressing the issues of geographical origin of agricultural goods, conservation of genetic resources for food and agriculture and national community rights on genetic resources that are moving slowly as there is no internal and external thrust for expediting the process is a need of the hour to keep pace with international standards. These laws, along with laws on patents, will have extensive impact on the future of seed system in Pakistan.

About 15-20 per cent increase in crop yield could be attainable using quality, healthy, certified and approved seed that fulfils international standards that could be possible by introducing gene revolution. Efforts are needed to provide maximum protection to hybrid seeds and biotech seeds of various crops. Similarly, protecting national and community rights on genetic resources, geographical origins and traditional knowledge are also essential.

Since 1976 when Seed Act was implemented, efforts were made to provide seed of major crops of wheat, rice and cotton. During the last 30 years to present day, the seed industry in the country has gradually come forward to supply seeds to growers of wheat, cotton and rice to the extent of 19.7 per cent, 63.5 per cent and 8.2 percent, respectively.

It is to remember that wheat, rice and cotton seed varieties are predominantly self-pollinated and easy to produce. This encouraged the seed companies to simply multiply and distribute public sector crop varieties without any effort for technology acquiring or development. Result being that the yield of these crops has become either stagnant or negative threatening food security equation particularly when population is increasing at a rate greater than rate of growth in farming.

Some of 552 public and private sector seed companies have been engaged in the system of seed production, distribution and advisory services to growers. Nevertheless most of them are not seed companies in real sense and more or less are simply seed traders. These are not doing any kind of research work regarding seed production. Among them a few seed companies have initiated research and seed development activities with minimal infrastructure. Endeavours are required to streamline the activities of these companies in accordance with international standards. Onus is on the public sector to protect rights of the growers and prevents opportunists from exploiting the growers.

Remembering, the public sector institutions are backbone of advance research for developing new technologies and genetic resources even in corporate sector-led countries like the USA, the UK, France and Australia since public sector has the resources to meet necessary expenditure. The role of public sector institutions becomes more critical for development of domestic seed industry in developing countries like Pakistan.

Research system in our country is week and needs to be strengthened. In other words, our research system presents a dismal and disappointing picture. For advancement in crop production, coordination among research institutes in sharing research data is crucial. Contrary to this, none of the research institutes in the country is eager to share its technological achievements with any other research institute for acceleration of technical advancement.