Seed Association warns of severe shortages as Punjab authorities block interprovincial wheat seed movement
LAHORE:
Punjab’s seed companies meet around 90% of Pakistan’s total seed requirements, yet flawed policies are pushing the agriculture sector toward destruction, warned the Seed Association of Pakistan (SAP) at a press conference held at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday.
According to the association, if immediate corrective measures are not taken, the ongoing crisis will worsen. LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol assured the Seed Association of the chamber’s full support and urged the government to act without delay to address the issue. Chairman SAP Rana Salman Mahmood Khan said the Punjab Agriculture Regulatory Authority (PERA) and the Food Department had jointly halted the supply of wheat seed to other provinces. He warned that the decision would exacerbate the existing shortage and could cause a severe drop in wheat production nationwide.
He pointed out that Pakistan produces about 552,000 metric tonnes of seed annually, with Punjab’s seed companies contributing 516,000 metric tonnes, roughly 94% of the national total. “You can imagine the impact on national wheat cultivation if Punjab’s companies are stopped from supplying seed to other regions,” he said.
The association has sought urgent meetings with the secretary of PERA and the director general of the Food Department to resolve the issue. It has also written letters to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, but has yet to receive a response. SAP has appealed to Field Marshal General Asim Munir to intervene, saying wheat is the backbone of Pakistan’s food security. “We urge you to ensure timely sowing and seed supply to save the nation from a major crisis,” said Mahmood.
