Pakistan Agriculture Developments

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Pak-China JWG agrees to deepen cooperation in the agriculture and livestock sectors​

September 21, 2022




ISLAMABAD, Sep 20 (APP): China-Pakistan Joint Working Group (JWG) on Agriculture here Tuesday agreed for establishing a laboratory to develop embryos of elite animals, besides setting up chilies farm to under first batch of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects to boost agricultural sector.

Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) of the People’s Republic of China jointly organized 3rd meeting of China-Pakistan Joint Working Group (JWG) on Agriculture.

The meeting discussed and reviewed areas to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture and livestock sectors between the two countries.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed progress of several investment initiatives by Chinese companies as Royal Group of China has established a laboratory in Lahore to develop buffalo embryos of elite animals. The company also plans to set up a buffalo dairy farm of 8,000 heads.
Dr Akmal Siddiq, Technical Advisor MNFS&R, while welcoming the initiative said that the project will significantly improve buffalo breeds and milk production both in Pakistan and China.

Sichuan Litong Limited and China Machinery and Engineering Corporation have started chili contract-farming in Punjab and Sindh on 400 hectares as company is providing local farmers technology and training to grow high-quality chilis.

It has planned to expand this operation on 10,000 hectares and to also establish a chili processing plant.
Dr. Waseem ul Hassan, Food Security Commissioner at MNFS&R said that Pakistan is a net-importer of chili and this initiative will help in producing import-substitution and genetic improvement of chili in the local climate.
“Pakistan has tremendous potential to export horticultural products and looks forward to exploring export potential of these products in the Chinese market, said Dr Akmal Siddiq, Technical Advisor MNFS&R.
These two investment initiatives, among others, are in the first batch of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects to boost agricultural trade and expand economic activities between the two countries.
China Animal Husbandry Industry Company is also planning a livestock vaccine production plant in Gwadar which will produce vaccines to prevent animal diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, where as.
Shandong Rainbow Agriculture Polytron Technologies is planning to set up laboratories for potato seed culture and oilseed development.
The other company Zhengbang Limited has signed an MOU with Fauji Fertilizer Corporation to jointly establish plants to produce pesticides and cattle and poultry feed in the Allama Iqbal Special Economic Zone in Faisalabad under the said framework.
Both sides appreciated and expressed satisfaction on the progress in business-to-business initiatives.

In the government-to-government cooperation framework, China will provide technical assistance to establish Centre for Sustainable Management of Plant Pests and Diseases in Karachi. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences will strengthen technology cooperation with Pakistan counterparts to enhance the capacity of prevention and control of pests and diseases.
China will also help Pakistan in capacity building for cotton-seed technology. Both countries will soon sign an MOU on Strengthening Cooperation on Animal Disease Control. Scientists from both countries will jointly work to enhance prevention and control of pests and diseases.
Both sides agreed to promote transfer of technology and strengthen capacity of the concerned institutions in Pakistan.

Syed Khalid Gardezi, Additional Secretary MNFS&R said that the Joint Working Group is an effective platform for cooperation and trade between Pakistan and China, through which both countries can collaborate in capacity-building, infrastructure development, and transfer of technology.

NI Hongxing said that China looks forward to further strengthen partnership with Pakistan in agriculture.

He hoped that by the next Joint Working Group meeting, in second half of 2023, a meaningful progress will be achieved to expand agricultural trade and deepen
scientific ties between two countries.

 

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Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) Complex

Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) is being established for forensic examination and testing of fertilizers, pesticides, food and drugs.

IDAP is establishing revolutionary Biosafety Level 3 category laboratories for forensic examination and testing of fertilizers, pesticides, food and drugs in their ongoing project, the PAFDA Complex.

The facility will improve the quality and standard of food, food materials, drugs, pesticides and fertilizers across the province.

 

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Successful cultivation of Zaafran (Saffron) in Dalbandin, Balochistan..

 

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Wheat is a Rabi crop that is grown in the winter season. In Pakistan sowing of wheat takes place from October to December and harvesting during the month of March to May. But it will take a long time for the flood water to dry up, so wheat may be less this time..

 

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Cotton ...
Exports of cotton from Pakistan have been started as the country has struck export contracts for 20 thousand bales of cotton with different countries.

Pakistan Cotton Ginners Forum (PCGF) Chairman Ihsanul Haq said that cotton exports from Pakistan have been started, initially more than 3,000 bales of cotton were sent to Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The chairman said that the export contracts for 20 thousand bales of cotton have been finalised by Pakistan with other countries of the world.

He said that the exporters are also facing problems due to the deterioration of the quality of cotton due to rains, the price of cotton in Pakistan is Rs22 to 23 thousand per maund.

Ihsanul Haq said the main reason behind the hike in local white lint rate is reports that cotton production in the United States has declined.

 

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Tobacco growers turning to potato cultivation in Swabi​

Dawn
October 29, 2022

A farmer stands in his potato field in Chota Lahor area of Swabi.

SWABI: Farmers belonging to different regions of the district in a meeting here on Friday said that they were compelled to cultivate potato instead of tobacco due to the indifferent policy of the companies and tobacco traders in the current year.

The meeting was called by Tobacco Growers Association Pakistan (TGAP) to discuss the approach of the companies who had been showing reluctance to pick all the tobacco crop.

Raham Dad, a leading grower, said the environment and land here were suitable for potato production and the high price also encouraged the farmers to cultivate potato.

The farmers claimed that the reasons for shifting from tobacco to potato cultivation included the ‘hostile’ attitude of the multinational and national companies, failure of the Pakistan Tobacco Board to play its due role, imposition of Rs390 per kilogramme tax on tobacco by the federal government and their weakened financial position.

The participants said that the land for potato cultivation had been doubled and if this experience proved successful it would encourage the tobacco growers to cultivate it on more land in future.

TGAP central president Liaquat Yousafzai said it was not possible for the tobacco growers to face indifference of the federal and provincial governments, the companies, traders and PTB in the wake of high inflation and increasing prices of pesticides and fertilisers.

 

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Enhancing farmers’ income​

Khalid Saeed Wattoo | Rahema Hasan
October 31, 2022

In October 2022, thousands of farmers protested in Islamabad, demanding a reduction in the prices of agricultural inputs. The recent hike in prices of fertiliser and electricity has resulted in a higher cost of crop production, which in turn has negatively impacted farmers’ income and the profitability of the agriculture sector.

Successive governments in Pakistan came up with numerous policy measures to develop the agriculture sector, but the primary thrust of initiatives remained on enhancing GDP of the agriculture sector and not farmers’ income. Only some selected piecemeal measures were taken in the form of subsidies on agricultural inputs or increase in the minimum support price (MSP) of crops.

On the contrary, India launched a comprehensive medium-term programme in 2016 called “Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2022” to enhance real farmers’ income after adjusting for inflation. There are three determinants of farmers’ income, i.e. cost of crop production, per acre yield, and realised crop price.

First, let’s analyse the cost of production. A farmer has to buy five major agricultural inputs, i.e. petroleum products (diesel), electricity, fertiliser, seed and pesticide. Out of these, fertiliser and electricity costs are currently at the top of the list.

New private investment in the agriculture sector is a prerequisite for improving productivity and achieving food security

Due to various national and international factors, prices of diammonium phosphate and potassium fertilisers have skyrocketed in the last year. A decline in the sale of these would mean a decrease in crop yield. Thus, in turn, additional subsidies will have to be pumped in to ensure the survival of the agriculture sector.

Pakistan’s fertiliser usage (kilogram per acre) is already low compared to India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. And even in the face of the government’s claim of providing huge fertiliser subsidies, prices are higher than in India and Bangladesh. The substantial hike in electricity prices recently has almost doubled the cost of irrigation.

Second, productivity (per acre yield) is the crux of the matter which can eliminate the dependency of the agriculture sector on subsidies. For a country to be competitive, crop yield must be above a certain level. There are various precedents worldwide where countries gradually withdrew subsidies as productivity increased.

Third, another matter raised at different forums is the MSP of crops. The government has been announcing MSP for two crops only — wheat and sugarcane. Recently, cotton has been added to this shortlist. On the other hand, the Indian government has brought 23 crops under the realm of MSP. In addition, due to multiple intermediaries, cartels, and price manipulators in the supply chain, farmers almost feel helpless to get a fair price for crops.

Against this backdrop, it can be asserted that the government may have the intention to increase the profitability of the agriculture sector, but it faces the difficulty of balancing the competing interests of farmers and the general public — the buyers of agricultural produce. Giving benefits to farmers through an increase in the price of wheat and/or other essential commodities can affect consumers badly, especially when Pakistan is experiencing one of history’s highest inflation rates.

Efforts should be made to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of fertilisers and pesticides applied in fields. Due to improper application, a significant quantity is wasted, which increases the cost of production. Likewise, the cost of irrigation can be saved considerably through improved irrigation practices, the use of water-saving technologies, and improving designs of tubewells.

There is a need to initiate new projects to increase farm productivity through improving agricultural infrastructure, promoting agricultural technologies, increasing coverage of high-yielding seeds, ensuring the optimum number of plants in an acre and providing effective agricultural extension.

One of the farmers’ demands is to take note of the black marketing of urea fertiliser. It is strange that a farmer can buy even a truckload of urea from a small village-based fertiliser seller if he is ready to pay extra money amounting to Rs500-800 per bag. Therefore, the claim of urea shortage does not hold water.

It is time for farmers to have direct marketing opportunities to reduce the influence of middlemen, cartels, and rent-seekers. Promoting contract farming, warehouse receipt system, farmers-processors direct linkages, and other proven models can help farmers realise better prices.

The government should establish an institutional mechanism for determining the cost of production, import parity price, and GDP deflator (price deflator) to adjust inflation and equalise prices in real terms every year and accordingly decide the nature and magnitude of subsidies.

New private investment in the agriculture sector is a prerequisite for improving productivity, achieving food security, and combating climate change. However, unless a certain level of profitability and returns are ensured through various policy measures, new investment would remain a dream.

Khalid Wattoo is a farmer and a consultant in the social sector.

Rahema Hasan is a political economist and graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, October 31st, 2022

 

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PM Shehbaz announces Rs1,800 billion relief package for farmers​

Premier says package is drafted keeping in mind needs of flood affectees and welfare of growers

News Desk
October 31, 2022

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced Rs1,800 billion relief package for farmers for the revival of the agriculture sector and to restore the livelihoods of farmers in the flood-affected areas.

The package included the provision of free seeds, measures to reduce di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) prices and the availability of urea in the country.

It also included initiatives to run tube wells on solar energy and facility for depositing electricity bills in installments.

Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, he said that the announced package was Rs400 billion more than the previous year, saying that it was drafted keeping in mind the needs of the flood-affected areas as well as for the welfare of the farmers.

The prime minister said that the price of DAP has been reduced by Rs2,500 per bag, adding that 1.2 million bags of seeds will be distributed in the flood-hit areas.

Shehbaz said that Rs5 billion in subsidised loans will be given to landless farmers in flood-affected areas whereas Rs10 billion have been allocated for small and medium enterprises in the package.

He said that the loans of small farmers in the flood-affected areas are being waived, while the import of tractors that are less than five years old is being allowed.

The premier said that the decision was taken as the government was unable to reduce the price of tractors. He also said that 0.5 million tonnes of urea will be imported in total out of which 0.2 million has already been imported.

Shehbaz said that loans worth Rs50 billion have been allocated for the unemployed youth in the flood-affected areas, adding that the government of Pakistan will provide subsidy in terms of interest on the loans which will be worth Rs6.4 billion.

PM Shehbaz said the previous government first exported sugar and then imported it and they did the same with wheat which caused revenue losses for the country.

He said that the government will in incentivised new investors and if they import completely knocked down (CKD) tractors, the government will reduce import duty.

"I will invite Chinese investors to invest in Pakistan during my visit."

Shehbaz said that 1.6 million tonnes of more wheat will be imported which will ensure that no shortage of wheat is in the country. "There will be no shortage of it. We have to save every dollar that is why we're stopping private sector from importing," he added.

Shehbaz said that there are 0.3 million tube wells in Pakistan that run on electricity. "We want to move towards solar panels for tube wells. We will provide interest-free loans to the owners and we will also assist them in getting these loans. We will give subsidy on these loans and will pay the interest cost," he added.

He warned that if Pakistan does not increase its agricultural produce, its previous resources will be spent on importing commodities such as wheat and cotton.

"We are fixing electricity cost at Rs13 per unit for farmers. We will give as much relief to farmers as possible despite all difficulties," he added.

He said that government expects the package would yield results in few month, adding that the package will also help increase the country's exports.

 

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Sindh, Farmers are preparing field for wheat crop...

 

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Signing ceremony of Pak-China agricultural machinery training program held​

November 4, 2022



BEIJING, Nov 3 (APP): An online signing ceremony of agricultural machinery training program has been held simultaneously at Tianjin Modern Vocational Technology College (TMVTC) and MNS University of Agriculture Multan through Internet cloud technology.

Initiated by the Pakistani Luban Workshop, the program aims to promote China-Pakistan vocational education cooperation and serve international agricultural capacity cooperation under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The training course pinpoints the huge demand for corn cultivation and harvesting in Punjab province. With the theme of “Application and Maintenance Technology of Self-propelled Corn Harvester, 8 lectures and 2 seminars will be held within around one month,” CEN reported.
Those online courses focus on topics such as Tianjin’s advantageous agriculture going global, development trend of agricultural machinery, application of UAV technology in agriculture and introduction of Luban Workshop project.

The organizers invited experts and senior engineers from several teaching and research institutes and enterprises in Tianjin to give lectures. Through the “cloud classroom”, Chinese personnel provided targeted training to teachers and students of MNS University of Agriculture Multan, senior engineers of the Punjab Agricultural Mechanization Institute and advanced agricultural machinery users in Pakistan.


Prof. Sun Deling, former Vice President of Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Prof. Zhang Baoqian, agricultural machinery expert at Tianjin Agricultural Development Service Center, delivered keynote speeches on “Tianjin’s Agricultural Advantages and Scientific Research Achievements” and “Technology and Equipment for Full-scale Mechanization of Maize Production” respectively.

The organizers also invited staff from Tianjin Tailai Import and Export Co., Ltd to share their experience of agricultural machinery going abroad, and give a keynote speech on “Serving CPEC, Cultivating Agricultural Skills Talents, introducing the practical experience of school-enterprise cooperation in improving agricultural capacity.

According to TMVTC, training equipment used for this online teaching is maize harvester produced by Yongmeng Machinery Co., Ltd. The company will donate relevant equipment to Pakistan, and those equipment will arrive at MNS Agricultural University in December for offline practice.

Luban Workshop, launched and run by Tianjin, represents a win-win model for international vocational education cooperation, sharing China’s educational achievements and resources with countries in need.

In April 2017, TMVTC and MNS University of Agriculture signed an MoU of cooperation to establish a Luban Workshop in Pakistan.

Since its operation in Pakistan in 2018, TMVTC has been continuously promoting the construction of projects in Pakistan. Focusing on academic education and vocational training respectively, the college has established two Luban workshops in Lahore and Multan in collaboration with its Pakistani partners.

Those workshops will explore the development of whole-process mechanization training for one or two kinds of crops, provide high-quality vocational skills training for Pakistani youths under the mode of international industry-education cooperation, and facilitate cooperation between Chinese and Pakistani agriculture-related enterprises.

 

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Farmers urged to sow standard wheat​

Spokesman says farmers of irrigated areas should complete cultivation of 'Fakhar Bhakar' variety by November 15

APP
November 14, 2022

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LAHORE: The Punjab agriculture department has advised the farmers of the irrigated areas to cultivate approved wheat varieties within the stipulated.

The department's spokesman said on Sunday that the farmers of irrigated areas should complete cultivation of 'Fakhar Bhakar' variety by November 15, while ‘Bhakar star’ must be sown from November 10 to December 10.

He said varieties including Arooj 22, Durum 2021, Akbar 19, Dilkash 20, NARC Super, Ghazi 19, Subhani 21, Rehbar 21 and MH 21 must be cultivated by November 30.

He said sowing of Johar 16, Borlag 16, Zincol 16, Ujala 16, Anaj 17 and Faisalabad 8 must be completed from December 1 to 10, while cultivation of Sadiq 21 and Nawab 21 should be completed for all districts of south The spokesman said the farmers should use 40 to 50kg of seeds per acre during current month 50 to 55kg from Dec 1 to 10. The germination rate of the seeds should not be less than 85 per cent.

To get a good yield of wheat, it was very important to prepare smooth and levelled land besides ensuring removal of weeds, he maintained.


He said farmers should level the land with a laser leveler and divide the fields into small sections before ploughing so that a larger area could be ploughed with less water.

He said, "When sowing time is near, farmers must plough and harrow before sunrise." Repeating this process two or three times would help in destroying weeds and the soil moisture would increase, ultimately ensuring good growth of wheat, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th, 2022

 

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KPK, Irrigation Projects.......

The Chief Minister of KPK laid the foundation stone for the construction of Sanam Dam project at Asbanr, Tehsil Adinzai district Dir lower, which would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 2 billion. Sanam dam, having a designed discharge capacity of 10 cusecs, would cultivate a command area of 2150 acres.
The Chief Minister termed these projects of vital importance for the food security of the province, adding that the CRBC project has also been approved. Its completion would cultivate around 4 lakh acres of land. Mahmood Khan stated that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mostly depends on other provinces in terms of agricultural produce and that’s why the provincial government is working to make this province self-sufficient in this regard.

 

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Pakistan can tap opportunities to modernise agriculture sector under CPEC: Dr Liaqat Ali Shah​

November 25, 2022




ISLAMABAD-Pakistan can modernise its agriculture sector with China’s help to boost the national economy, WealthPK reported.The cooperation between China and Pakistan can prove significant for the development of the agriculture sector in the latter.

Pakistan has enormous potential to access the huge agricultural market in China through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Dr Liaqat Ali Shah, Executive Director and Head of the Policy Division at CPEC Authority, told WealthPK that the mega project would boost the agriculture sector in Pakistan.

He said that CPEC offered a great opportunity to cement bilateral cooperation and mitigate the trade imbalance between the two countries.

“The agriculture sector is playing a crucial role in the country’s economy through a variety of channels. However, in the current scenario, agriculture in Pakistan is facing several challenges including shortage of water, sudden climate fluctuations, shortage of pesticides, unavailability of proper seeds, poor infrastructure and lack of innovative research.

These issues can be mitigated through modern technology and strong policies,” he said. Dr Laiqat Ali said that agriculture is the backbone of the national economy. He said that the involvement and cooperation of China could mark a new era in the modernisation of Pakistan’s agriculture sector.

He said that the economy of Pakistan depends heavily on agriculture. He said that Pakistan’s economy could not become stable without the development of the agriculture sector. “Agricultural production is a top priority for the Pakistani government and proactive measures have been taken to reduce costs and improve efficiency in the industry.

Rapid population growth creates a greater need to modernise agriculture across the country,” he said. Dr Liaqat Ali said that there was considerable potential for cooperation between China and Pakistan in various fields such as agriculture, rural development and capacity building for farmers.

He said that cooperation by China in the field of agriculture would enable Pakistan to overcome the challenges and boost the export of agricultural products to China and other countries. He said that agriculture is a core export industry, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s foreign exchange besides assisting other economic sectors to expand.

It is a manifestation of the fact that the agriculture sector is vital for the country’s overall economy,” he added. He said that due to its ability to quickly end poverty and produce economic benefits, agriculture has a competitive advantage over other sectors of the economy.

“Pakistan needs to adopt modern agricultural methods to boost this sector. Agriculture productivity can be increased by the use of modern technology and improvement in existing technology. We can integrate the growth of food crops and that of cash crops by adapting to local conditions, building on strengths and avoiding weaknesses,” Dr Liaqat Ali.

 

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Developing new seed varieties​

Nasir Jamal
November 28, 2022

Growing from a small auto spare parts shop at the old Sarai Sultan bus terminal in Lahore, one of Pakistan’s top national brands, Guard, has become a household name due to its oil filters, engine and brake lubricants and, above all, packed rice.

However, few know that the biggest contribution made by the Guard Group of Companies to the country’s economy and exports came from its agriculture research wing, Guard Agricultural Research and Services (GARS). GARS introduced hybrid rice seed technology to farmers in Sindh in the early 2000s after years of research and field trials in collaboration with China’s Yuan Longping High Tech Agriculture Company.

The hybrid technology has since helped more than double the per acre rice yield to 4,800-5,200 kilos, boosted farmers’ income, and alleviated poverty in rice-growing areas of upper and lower Sindh. After its success in Sindh, it is now sown in parts of south Punjab.

The huge increase in output means an additional surplus for exports, growing Pakistan’s outbound rice shipments to $2.5 billion in the last fiscal year from $700 million or so when the first hybrid seed variety was introduced in 2002. The group, the first Pakistani company to have launched packed and branded rice in the country, sells rice to nearly 40 countries with its brand name and has already captured a big slice of the market in regions where South Asian expats live.

Hybrid technology has helped more than double the per acre rice yield to 4,800-5,200 kilos, boosting farmers’ income, and alleviating poverty in rice-growing areas of Sindh

“We are the pioneer of hybrid rice technology in Pakistan that has brought prosperity to rice growing areas. Today we have 12-13 approved hybrid rice seed varieties.

Before hybrid technology was launched, our rice growers would sow Irri, which had degenerated over time and would not yield more than 2,000 kilos per acre. We are proud to have served our growers and country in a meaningful way,” GARS CEO Shahzad Ali Malik told Dawn in an interview last week. “We have also started exporting hybrid seed to the Philippines, where Irri was developed. It’s like selling ice to Iceland,” he chuckled.

In a candid conversation, he says his group ventured into agriculture research and development in 1989 because they sensed a good business opportunity in the research-based food business. “We hired a top scientist to conduct research. The breakthrough came when Yuan Longping, China’s top technology provider and inventor of hybrid rice, approached us and offered collaboration in hybrid technology. We didn’t know anything about that, but we realised that it could be a big opportunity for us as well as the country. We were right.”

The success has led Mr Malik to expand the research into developing heat, drought and salinity tolerant rice varieties and build high-yield hybrid wheat and cotton seed varieties in collaboration with the Beijing Academy of Agriculture Sciences.

“It’s a shame that despite being an agricultural country, we must import wheat and cotton to meet our food and industrial requirements. We have five field crops — cotton, wheat, maise, rice and sugarcane — but only rice and maise are performing well because of hybrid technology, which significantly cuts production costs and boosts output,” says Mr Malik. , who was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the previous PPP government, says, adding the Research and field trials on hybrid cotton have been ongoing for the last seven years and wheat for five years in six company research centres in Sindh and three in south Punjab, he says. “We hope to get regulatory approvals and commercialise hybrid cotton and wheat crops in the next two years.

At present, we are focused on high-yield hybrid varieties of these crops. Other varieties will follow later,” says Mr Malik, who was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the PPP government.

Hybrid rice seeds are almost seven times more expensive than regular seeds and the growers have to purchase them from seed companies every year because these cannot be stored for the next harvest. But the growers require only a small quantity of hybrid seed compared to regular seeds.

“With double the harvest and incomes, hybrid technology is more viable than conventional seed technology and, therefore, makes economic sense for farmers,” Mr Malik argues. He points out that public-sector agriculture research institutes should work to develop hybrid basmati rice to protect our heritage.

“Hybrid rice is so popular among the growers that basmati growers are also switching to this variety. Unless we offer basmati growers new high-yielding basmati varieties, I fear they will stop growing it due to higher production costs and lower yields,” he warns. Guard is also working on hybrid basmati varieties to protect the nation’s cultural heritage.

Mr Malik says the investment in agriculture research can be risky, but the returns are very good. “Development of a seed variety is not capital intensive, but it is a painstakingly slow process, taking six to seven years and involving research and field trials.

Even after this long time, you cannot be sure of success. That’s why no one ventures into agriculture research; our businessmen want quick returns on their investments. Investing in real estate is easier and much more profitable for them. Many companies are importing hybrid rice seeds to sell in the country; only our firm has invested in the development of varieties suitable to the weather of different regions in Pakistan.”

He is very critical of the regulatory regime for seed variety approval. “Seed variety approval is a very cumbersome process in Pakistan.

All the approving authorities are in the public sector and comprise people working for the government or government-run research institutes. They don’t want the private sector to take the lead in agriculture research and keep setting up roadblocks. In my view, the seed councils should have representation from research-oriented private companies to make the variety approval process easy.”

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, November 28th, 2022