APROPOS the article ‘Experts oppose replacement of indigenous corn, wheat seeds’ (Dec 9), the use of hybrid seeds, especially imported ones, by farmers is increasing in Pakistan to improve the stagnant yields of different crops.
Pakistan has already significantly improved yields of different food crops, including vegetables, with the help of hybrid seeds.
After the introduction of hybrid maize during the 1990s, almost all farmers have shifted to hybrid maize from traditional/open pollinated varieties. This increased production from a mere 30 maunds an acre to an average of 80-120 maunds an acre and even higher.
Although most of the imported hybrid seeds are giving the desired yield to farmers, some farmers still fail to get the desired yield, mainly due to substandard/smuggled seeds and partially because of poor crop management and outdated farming practices.
Therefore, the only solution is that the government take strict action against the unregulated seed mafia, and support and facilitate the reliable private sector agricultural companies. Only research-oriented agricultural companies have the requisite infrastructure and expertise to ensure that only those seeds enter the market that are compatible with the Pakistani environment and, most importantly, give the same yield as they do in other countries.
As far as the issue of cross-pollination is concerned, the fact is that though the hybrid corn seeds are being used by farmers for the last two decades, there have been no farmers’ complaints in this regard.
Even in the case of genetically- modified (GM) corn, whose years-long field trials have been conducted by international companies, not a single farmer has complained.
According to experts and providers of hybrid seeds, the scientific reality is that hybrid maize and GM maize are not sexually compatible with any indigenous or introduced wild plant species present in Pakistan.
Therefore, the ‘experts’ should not worry about non-issues like cross-pollination. I would like to say that farmers know their interest best and do not need parenting by the unregulated seed sector.
Zeeshan Mazhar Siddiqui
Lahore
Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2014
