The federal government has constituted 6 teams to evaluate the losses caused by the recent floods to the agriculture sector. Inaugurating the "Central Seed Testing Laboratory" Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal on Monday said that the government has selected professionals for evaluation of agricultural loss and they would present their assessment report within a week.
The minister said that the establishment of the central seed laboratory is aimed at testing and ensuring the prescribed quality of various seeds so that the farmers could increase their produce. He said that the laboratory would also monitor the work of field laboratories and would have links with international seed laboratories and institutions. The government has understood the importance of laboratory and provided required funds for the building of laboratory and provision of the equipment.
The minister said that Pakistanis are facing the challenge of floods, which adversely affected agriculture sector and livelihood of poor farmers. He directed FSC&RD officials to come forward in facilitating provincial governments, public and private seed corporation/companies, development partners, NGOs and others in supply of quality seed of various crops. The seed quality assurance is imperative to enhance farmers' access to quality seed, it is also equally important from the standpoint of compliance of international standards under WTO regime, Gondal said.
The minister stressed the need for raising the quality of seeds by enhancing the competence level of scientists as well as upgrading facilities and harmonising seed testing standards and procedures in compliance with international practices.
The minister was of the view that to become competitive in the global market, "We have to become quality conscious and I endorse the comments of the Director General, FSC&RD that there would be direct value addition to our exportable seed consignments owing to the quality certificate issued after this lab gets accredited and acknowledged throughout the world".
He said that Pakistan has to maintain a high level of professional commitment while assessing quality of seed in the laboratory to get international accreditation as early as possible. He said that there is no doubt that Pakistan has to upgrade its seed sector to tap available domestic seed production potential. "We must curtail seed imports of high value crops like vegetables, oil seed, fodders and others," the minister added. "To meet this challenge substantial public sector investment has already been made by setting up of new seed testing laboratories and launching of facilitation unit for participatory vegetable seeds and nursery production" he maintained.
He said that the ministry has also prepared a "National Commercial Seed Production Programme" which is included in the current PSDP and based on 'public private partnership'. Gondal said that the programme also has provision for establishment of a "Seed Technology Training Institute" at FSC&RD for catering the public and private seed sector human resource development and the government fully understands the importance of seed sector and diverting required investment to this sector. He maintained that the government has already introduced "Plant Breeds Rights Bill" and Seed (amendment) Bill, 2010 in the parliament. The minister added that these laws when passed and implemented would encourage substantial flow of investments both domestic and overseas in new crop varieties development.
Director General, Federal Seed certification and Registration Department (FSC&RD) Muhammad Boota highlighted the recent achievements of the department. He said that it has established ECO Seed Association, developed national seed association, and promoted linkages among Pakistan, Turkey and Scotland for technology transfer. He added that revival of ISTA membership and initiation of accreditation process with the help of PANC are among the achievements of the FSC&RD.
Boota said that setting up of seed testing laboratory would also change seed industry outlook and will enhance role of FSC&RD in seed testing and provision of regulatory support. The department is ready for it. Particularly, FSC&RD has to double its efforts in controlling the fake seeds as we have to meet the small farmers expectations in ensuring seed quality, he said.
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