LAHORE: A comprehensive national seed policy framed with inputs from all stakeholders is in a final stage and will be unveiled shortly after approval by the federal cabinet, says Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo.
He claimed that Punjab had achieved its wheat sowing target set by the Federal Committee on Agriculture notwithstanding the apprehensions being expressed by different quarters in the wake of abolition of wheat procurement policy by the provincial government last season.
The policy, finalised after input from provincial authorities, farmers and other stakeholders, sets directions for regulation, investment, import, etc. of seed business addressing the issues being faced by the seed technology companies, with the aim to boost the production of cotton and other crops, he said while talking to journalists.
Highlighting the role of the private sector in the development of the agricultural sector, he said the Punjab government was holding parleys with the multi-national as well as local companies to stabilise the dwindling cotton production.
Mr Sahoo admitted that research institutions in the public sector had failed to develop high-yielding seed and that the revolution in maize and rice production was a result of quality hybrid seeds given by the private sector.
“We are not competitors of the private sector, rather we are here to support it financially and through other means as required by it.”
Sharing the efforts made by the Punjab government to boost the agricultural sector, he said the province had achieved the wheat sowing target of 16.5 million acres by the conclusion of the sowing season on Dec 10 despite all odds.
He praised his extension staff for launching a successful wheat sowing campaign with the help of agriculture graduates.
The secretary said negotiations were underway with an international firm for commissioning a bio-refinery in the province to use the crop waste, especially rice stalk, and produce biofuel.
“This will also help minimise the share of the farm sector in environmental degradation,” he said.
Responding to a query about impact of smog on yields of different crops, he said it had not yet been calculated, however, the government had distributed 1,000 super seeders among rice farmers so as they did not set ablaze rice crop residue in the field, contributing to smog.
He said the super seeder distribution number would reach 5,000 next year.
Project Director Dr Anjum Buttar shared that the government was working on promoting production of chickpea and mung under a national project to meet the growing demand of the domestic market and discouraging its import.
Similarly, off-season sowing of tomatoes and onions was also being promoted as a large amount of land had already been brought under these crops in different areas of the province especially along the river Chenab, he added.
Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2024
