Pakistan Launches Seed Regulator, Research Funding and Credit Push to Lift Farm Output

Business leaders warn that falling yields, coupled with heavy post‑harvest losses, are straining food security.

Overview

The government has established the National Seed Regulatory Authority and is introducing a track‑and‑trace system to curb counterfeit seeds and ensure certified distribution.
Officials pledged public funding for agricultural research, describing higher‑quality seed as the cornerstone of productivity gains.
Banks have been directed to expand financing for agriculture and SMEs, and the minister said fertiliser shortages have been averted with prices kept stable.
LCCI leaders reported year‑on‑year declines in wheat, rice and cotton output, with per‑acre yields lagging neighboring countries.
Business representatives highlighted roughly 30% harvest‑time losses and a drop in cotton to about 7 million bales, noted an 89% edible‑oil import dependency, and urged farmer compensation, a higher wheat support price, and investment in value‑added processing including halal foods.