Agri Forum Pakistan Chairman, Muhammad Ibrahim Mughal has drawn the attention of the government towards the business of substandard and fake seeds creating fears of decline of 15 to 20 percent in the production of important crops like cotton, rice, maize, vegetable and fodder.
While talking to media here on Wednesday, Mughal alleged that fake seed mafia is playing havoc in the Punjab province but both the Federal Seed Certification Department and Punjab Agriculture Department's high-ups were playing the role of a silent spectator. He claimed that volume of this illicit business has reached to the Rs 8 billion and alleged that certain officers of the Federal Seed Certification Department and the provincial Agriculture Department were also shareholder in this business.
Agri Forum Chairman said that this mafia was dealing in substandard seeds of cotton, rice, maize, fodder and different vegetable and roaming around without any fear. He said that his organisation has also raised voice about this heinous business in the past which had reached to Rs 8 to 10 billion now but the issue was sidelined by the powerful fake seed mafia and concerned departments. He blamed the officers of the concerned departments that they are showing no interest to stop sale of unapproved seed.