Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Sikandar Hayat Bosan on Friday inaugurated "Seed Processing and Storage Complex" at National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC). The Seed Processing and Storage Complex facility consists of a multi-crop fully automatic high-tech seed plant, six seed stores and cold storage facility for long term storage of seed. The seed plant is a multi-crop processing facility and can process 3-5 ton seed of maize, wheat, soybean, canola, oat and pulses per hour.
The minister appreciated the efforts of PARC scientists for introducing such highly efficient seed processing facility at the NARC. During his visit, he showed great interest in the newly introduced maize cob-picker and de-husker. The ceremony was attended by Chairman Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, all members of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, director general Federal Seed Certification & Registration, member Food Security and Climate Change Planning Commission and agriculture scientists.
Sharing his views, Chairman PARC Dr Yusuf Zafar said, "We have to work very hard to implement new technology based research results in our fields." The PARC chairman also shed light on new inventions and projects of PARC. The programme leader Maize Sorghum Millet and Fodder Programme, NARC, said in his briefing that the facility was laid down under Indigenization of Hybrid Seed Production Technology (IHSPT) with a total cost of Rs 33.072 million. He said, "The facility is a landmark in availability of high quality, low cost and locally developed seed in the country for local farmers."