The government of Pakistan has announced a zero-tolerance policy against substandard seeds to protect farmers’ interests, directing the enforcement of stricter regulations across the agricultural sector. The initiative was revealed by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, during a meeting of the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority’s Board of Governors, attended by senior ministry officials, representatives from provincial agriculture departments, research institutes, and private sector stakeholders.
Rana Tanveer Hussain emphasized that the quality of seeds is fundamental to agricultural productivity and farmers’ profitability, underscoring that protecting farmers remains the government’s top priority. He highlighted that rigorous enforcement of seed regulations, transparent oversight, and a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption are pivotal for safeguarding farmers’ interests.
To improve the authority’s operations, the minister ordered the establishment of dedicated Finance and Planning Committees. These bodies will be responsible for strengthening financial governance, strategizing resource deployment, and enhancing audit preparedness. He noted that these steps will ensure greater transparency and efficiency within the authority.
Addressing the issue of seed company registrations, Hussain announced that all new companies must obtain licenses under the amended Seed Act. The revised process includes strict requirements for organizational structure, financial guarantees, and compliance with quality standards. The minister mandated performance bonds for seed companies and ordered the immediate deregistration of those that remain inactive or consistently fail to meet standards, making clear that farmers’ interests must take precedence over commercial gains.
Supporting sectoral reforms, Hussain endorsed the pilot introduction of a ‘Truth and Labelling System’ for cotton seeds. This system will be implemented with clearly defined quality benchmarks and climate adaptation protocols to shield farmers from inferior seed stock.
On the topic of farmer protection, the minister instructed the Grievances Redressal Committee to continue thoroughly investigating claims of crop losses due to faulty seeds. The process will involve physical verification, tax number validation, and formal hearings to ensure that legitimate claims are promptly addressed.
Concluding the meeting, Rana Tanveer Hussain reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding farmers, improving seed quality, and aligning Pakistan’s agriculture sector with international best practices. He emphasized that every initiative undertaken will aim to strengthen the seed industry and secure the future of national agriculture.
