The government, apparently due to the pressuring tactics from local seed manufacturers, is unnecessarily delaying the use of the biotech seeds in Pakistan which can increase the crop productivity. Experts told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that the sustainable food production had an immense potential to deliver inclusive economic growth and to fight the challenge of food insecurity in future.
According to scientists working on modern agricultural technologies, it is now time that Pakistan also adopts modern agricultural technologies to increase its production not only to meet food challenges of the future but also to increase the productivity of crops and make them competitive globally.
Currently, the government is again unnecessarily delaying its nod on biotech seeds due to pressure tactics from local seed manufacturers. Scientists are of the view that decision-makers should consider the opinion of scientists when it comes to technology rather than creating useless debate around an urgent issue.
"If we take example of biotech corn seed, the government is sceptical in making decision even though all regulatory requirements laid out in seed law and rules are comprehensively complied while they have given multiple approvals of cotton biotech seed. Local manufacturers are deliberately making it an issue because of their commercial interests," they said.
The experts believed that the technological advancement in the agriculture sector would help Pakistan grow its agro economy which would directly have a positive impact on masses and the country would be able to start exporting corn at a better level.
According to an international donor agency, the agriculture industry has been valued at an estimated US $3.2 trillion worldwide and accounts for a large share of the GDP and employment in developing and underdeveloped nation. Current agricultural practices alone cannot sustain the world population and eradicate malnutrition and hunger on a global scale in the future. Indeed, the FAO also estimates that despite a significant reduction in global hunger, 653 million people will still be undernourished in 2030.
Poultry industry has emerged as the largest consumer of grain, consuming 70 percent of the total production. Demand and supply gap is about to be further widened as poultry industry continues to record eight to 10 percent annual growth and only latest technologies in agriculture, especially in the corn cultivation, can help achieve required production.
According to scientists, biotech corn will have an insect-resistant feature along with herbicide tolerance, which will enable farmers to enhance productivity, reduce input and labour cost, and improve grain quality. The experts hope that GMO corn seed does not become another example like BT cotton wherein indecisiveness of the government has reduced the productivity of cotton in the country whereas all other countries who adopted the BT cotton technology have increased their cotton productions which is contributing to their economies.
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