Pakistan working out strategy to make available quality cotton seed

The Pakistan government having set cotton production target is now working out strategy to make available quality seed to it cotton growers. A joint strategy by Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSC&RD), Ministry of National Food Security and Research and Seed Association of Pakistan (SAP) is being developed for availability of quality cotton seed for Kharif 2014-15.

Also the Pakistan Ministry of Textile Industry sources said that it would deal strictly if found any violation of Seed Act, 1976 for which it has set off seed monitoring system in markets to ensure availability of quality cotton seed to cotton grower community.

To provide quality cotton seed it will include clearance from Provincial Seed Councils(PSC) and National Biosafety Committee (NBC), certification cover would be provided by FSC&RD.

To put Bt.cotton varieties in pedigreed seed production cycle, Breeder Nucleus Seed (BNS) and Pre-Basic crop seed be offered for crop inspection so that authentication of source may be verified through bio-technology laboratory in all the later categories of seed from basic to certified and approved seed.

The sources said due to financial constraints and non-provision of funds in FSC&RD, the applicant/seed company will provide Bt. strips/kits for testing of Bt and non Bt traits.

Bt cotton seed certification system after meeting necessary regulatory formalities, certification tags will be issued to both public and private seed sectors.

In this matter, 18 meetings of Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and 12 meetings of National Biosafety Committee (NBC), Ministry of Climate Change have been held to discuss the submitted cases for approval of lab genetic manipulation work, field trial and exempt status of Bt. Cotton varieties and other Genetically Modified crops.