Times Report
PESHAWAR: The 47th meeting of Provincial Seed Council was held under the chairmanship of Advisor to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Agriculture and Chairman of Provincial Seed Council, Mian Muhammad Umar. The meeting discussed in detail important matters relating to the provision of quality seeds, approval of new varieties and promotion of agricultural research in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa.
Provincial Seed council meeting was attended by Secretary Agriculture Dr. Muhammad Bakhtiar Khan, Director General Agricultural Research Dr. Abdul Rauf, Director General Agricultural Extension Dr. Naveed Khan and other members of Provincial Seed Council.
Addressing the meeting, Advisor on Agriculture Mian Muhammad Umar said that quality and improved seeds play a fundamental role in increasing agricultural productivity and enhancing farmers’ incomes. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is giving special attention to agricultural research, promotion of modern technologies and development of climate-resilient seed varieties.
He urged agricultural scientists to introduce superior seed varieties that would provide maximum benefits to farmers and ensure the availability of high-yielding and climate-adapted seeds.
The meeting reviewed proposals regarding new varieties of various crops, fruits, vegetables, cereals, oilseed crops and pulses. Participants were informed that under the Federal Seed Act, 1976, Provincial Seed Council is empowered to approve new varieties in the province, prevent the cultivation of ineffective or harmful varieties, permit inter-provincial commercial production and deal with other related matters.
After detailed deliberations, Provincial Seed Council approved cultivation of 19 seed varieties submitted by various institutions. These included new varieties of fruits, vegetables, cereals, oilseed crops and pulses. The approved varieties were developed by agricultural research institutions, national agricultural research organizations and universities.
The approved varieties include three fruit varieties: Blackberry, Apricot, Apricot (Castle Brite). In vegetables, council approved Pea Farhat-2025 and Onion NARC-1. Among cereal crops, approved varieties include PARC Oat, Fakhr-e-Tarnab Wheat, Abdul Bari-2024 Wheat, Dosti-2024 Wheat, Ishaq-2025 Wheat, Qaid-2026 Wheat, NARC-2 Maize, NIGAB-25 Rice, NARC-25 Rice and PARC-25 Rice. Similarly, in oilseed crops and pulses, council approved Sunflower NARC-SUN-2020, Soybean NIBGE-Soy-3, Canola IBGE-Canola, and Groundnut NARC-2021 for cultivation.
Mian Muhammad Umar further stated that government would provide all possible support to strengthen capacity of agricultural research institutions and promote modern agricultural research in the province.
Leave a Reply