THE Agricultural Development Corporation was in charge of the development programme for better seeds from 1947 to 1960 but it failed in its mission and was abolished in 1972. Then with help of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations and World Bank, the responsibility was handed over to the provinces.

In 1975, Sindh and Punjab established seed corporations. The Punjab Seed Corporation (PSC) established three seed processing plants in Rahimyar Khan, Sahiwal and Khanewal.

The PSC provides better seeds to 440 government agents. It provides 60 per cent cotton seeds and the rest 40pc is provided by private companies. It has established new plants as well in Sargodha for Gujranwala.

On the other hand, the Sindh Seed Corporation (SSC) was established in 1976, but it has remained closed owing to bad management. The plant is operational, but during the sowing season there has been a deficiency of seeds, especially cotton and wheat seeds, which are imported.

Unreliable wheat seeds are used in Sindh which is why the production is less. I once visited Sindh countryside and observed that 90pc of people use their own seeds and of that 50pc is usually useless and infertile. There are two reasons behind it. After the harvest the wheat is not properly dried nor is it exposed to air and heat.

Threshers are used immediately after the harvest of wheat. This results in wetness in the seeds. The farmers without any delay fill sacks with wheat and take it home or store in warehouses. Therefore, the wheat seed is damaged.

I would advise Sindh farmers to use researched and recommended seeds, which must be kept under the sun after harvest for at least 15 days in order to ripe properly. Only then they should be cleaned and kept in a clean, dry and protected warehouse.

I urge the Sindh government and SSC to establish their offices in every union council office, from where farmers should have better seeds and advice.

The non-working seed plants should be re-established and inexperienced faculty be replaced by experienced experts. Sindh should learn from Punjab in this regard.

Abdul Ghaffar Jamali

Bhit Shah

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2020