Pakistan's cotton seed importers in the private sector are playing in the hands of Indian exporters of low quality Bt cotton to damage Pakistan cotton, which is a major source of foreign exchange earning for Pakistan. But it is learnt that low quality Bt seed is being imported into Pakistan.
The NA standing committee on agriculture has taken a serious notice of the illegal import of low quality Bt cotton seed in a meeting held here on Thursday. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) told the committee that Bt cotton seed is being imported illegally by the private sector just to earn profit, without taking into account its quality.
Minfal highlighted that "the low standard Bt seed may result in severe viral infection destroying the crop", a senior official of Minfal told the committee.
He said the government is taking serious notice of this issue and it has succeeded in arresting some importers of the illegal seeds from the private sector. Moreover, the federal government has directed the provincial governments to take serious action against the people involved in this illegal business, but the provincial governments are not paying any heed to this issue.
The government has directed the Federal Food Certification Division to introduce new approved varieties of cotton seeds to be used for the growers in spite of using the low standard Bt cotton seed.
The NA committee was told that this low quality seed is being sold by the private sector to the growers at high prices. The farmer has to pay Rs 500-1,000 per kg of seeds while certified cotton seed in the local market is being sold at Rs 20-25 per kg.