Joint strategy on cotton biotechnology stressed

LAHORE:Introduction of cotton biotechnology in Pakistan is a big challenge for which the Punjab Seed Council and all private seed companies should jointly formulate a strategy under which seeds with advanced cotton production capacity will be introduced to the farmers and production targets will be ensured.

These views were expressed by Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Punjab Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani while presiding over a meeting held at Agriculture House Lahore regarding seeds with modern productivity for cotton and other important crops. On this occasion, Secretary Agriculture Iftikhar Ali Sahoo also attended the meeting.

Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani while addressing the meeting said that the invention of seeds with modern productivity of crops and resistance against diseases and insects is the need of time, which is necessary to reduce the environmental impact. In this regard, research institutions, academia and other relevant stakeholders have to work together. The minister further said that there is a need to take measures to restore the confidence of seed technology producer companies and create ease in business and a committee of experts should also be formed. The minister directed the holders to submit viable proposals for increasing cotton production and regulatory stewardship, which will be reviewed and sent to the chief minister for approval, he maintained.

Earlier, a private company head M Asim apprised the minister of the demands and problems of the seed companies during the briefing. Demands included announcement of biotech policy by the government, approval of hybrids by Provincial Seed Council, renewal of biosafety licences by NBC, approval of hybrids by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council and MNFS&R. The minister, while assuring the solution of these problems, endorsed that the relevant departments of the federal government would be contacted in this regard.