Recommendation to enhance hybrid seeds submitted.

ISLAMABAD -- The Sub-Committee of the Provincial Seed Committee on Rice Sunday has submitted a set of eight viable recommendations to Governor Punjab for the promotion of hi tech hybrid seeds to boost agricultural production in the country.

The committee headed by Shahzad Ali Malik Chairman Pakistan Hi-Tech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA) recommended to focus on a result-oriented package of incentives for research and development and local seed production, said a press release.

He recommended that the government has to give serious consideration to corporate farming by allotting state land on long-term lease basis at concessional rates to genuine seed producers who meet laid down criteria having a successful track record in research and seed production especially hybrid seed.

He also sought amendment in Seed Rules 2016 under the heading of Seed Production/import targets to achieve its very purpose to compel the importers to gradually shift from imports to local seed production for national and multinational seed companies which don't invest in local R and D, technology transfer and local seed production until restrained through compliance of the above said rules.

It was also recommended that interest-free loans be advanced to seed producers for R and D and for seed production locally and cash incentive of Rs 50 million also be announced for such researchers and breeders of both public/private sector whose variety becomes commercially successful on the basis of at least 10 percent increase in sale and production for 3 years.

The...