Scientists Urged to Concentrate on Dedicated Research of New Hybrid Seeds
Published on: December 5, 2023.
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Pakistan Hi-Tech Hybrid Seed Association Urges Scientists to Focus on Research for New Hybrid Seeds
LAHORE – The Pakistan Hi-Tech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA) Chairman, Shahzad Ali Malik, called on scientists to prioritize dedicated research in developing new hybrid seeds for various crops. This research would bring about a revolution in the agriculture sector, leading to increased per-acre yield and import substitution of agri-commodities.
Speaking at the conference on “Agriculture and Food Security” at the Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture in Multan, Malik highlighted the fact that although agriculture is considered the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, the country still imports agro-commodities such as cotton, wheat, edible oil, and pulses, amounting to a staggering US$10 to 11 billion annually.
Out of the five major field crops in Pakistan – cotton, wheat, rice, maize, and sugarcane – only maize and rice have been performing well. Malik attributed their success to hybrid technology, as they are the result of hybrid seeds.
Malik shared the success story of hybrid rice as an example. In Sindh province, IRRI rice had been cultivated since the 1960s using seeds acquired from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines. However, the per-acre yield remained stagnant at around 45 to 50 maunds per acre, calling for an alternative approach.
In the late 1990s, with the introduction of hybrid rice technology in collaboration with China by Guard Agri, the per-acre yield doubled to 100 to 110 maunds. This increase not only boosted farmers’ incomes but also contributed to prosperity, poverty alleviation, and socio-economic changes, particularly in rural Sindh. Furthermore, rice exports, which were stagnant at $450 million in 2002, rose to $2.4 billion in 2022. Malik expressed his gratitude to China for its hybrid rice technology, which significantly boosted the country’s foreign exchange earnings from rice exports.
Shahzad Ali Malik (Sitara-i-Imtiaz) commended the successful organization of the event and praised the efforts of Prof Dr. Asif Ali, Vice Chancellor, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Agriculture University, Multan, and his team for their work on developing wheat hybrids and establishing strong ties with private seed companies to commercialize hybrid wheat seed varieties. He concluded by highlighting this collaboration as an exemplary model of industry-academia linkage.
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