Mar 22, 2010

Sindh: Official Admits Acute Shortage of Quality Seed


Active ImageThe Sindh secretary for agriculture has admitted that the province faces acute shortage of quality seed and that shortage of quality seed was as big a problem for the province as the shortage of water.
 
 
Below is an article published by ReliefWeb:

Sindh secretary for agriculture Agha Jan Akhtar has admitted that the province faces acute shortage of quality seed and the government is seeking cooperation of private sector to improve the situation.

Speaking at a meeting at Sindh Agriculture University in Tandojam, Mr Akhtar said that the research being carried out by the university on seed would greatly help in ending seed shortage.

The university's vice-chancellor Dr A.Q. Mughal who presided over the meeting said that it was imperative to provide quality seed to farmers in order to ensure food security. He said the use of latest agricultural technology was equally necessary to increase productivity.

Sindh Abadgar Board president Abdul Majeed Nizamani said that shortage of quality seed was as big a problem for the province as the shortage of water.

He praised the university for carrying on research on production of quality seed.

There was consensus among the participants of the on production of early generation pedigreed seed of wheat varieties TD-1, TJ-83, SKD-1, Kiran-95, Sarsabz and Imdad.

Representatives of Nuclear Institute of Agriculture Tandojam, Agriculture Research Institute Tandojam, Pakistan Central Cotton Committee Sakrand, Federal Seed Certification and Registration Development, Sindh Seed Corporation and progressive farmers attended the meeting.

Water Shortage

The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture has urged the government to procure wheat from growers at procurement centres at government-fixed rates of Rs950 per 40kg.

The chamber which met here on Friday said that the province gave a look of wasteland because of acute shortage of water.

The lower Sindh did not even have drinking water for humans and cattle, said the meeting.

The meeting protested against acute shortage of water and demanded that water should be supplied to the province immediately according to its share.

The meeting urged the government to spend approved funds on lining of water channels and watercourses.

The funds announced by the US should also be spent on lining of channels and watercourses, the meeting said.