National Assembly Committee Addresses Seed Shortage, Calls for Support Prices and Reforms

Strategic Insights -

Tensions emerged between Punjab and Balochistan as the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security was informed that the Punjab Seed Corporation had ceased supplying seeds to Balochistan. The committee directed the Ministry of National Food Security to convene a meeting with provincial secretaries of Punjab and Balochistan to address the issue. Meanwhile, the committee recommended introducing minimum support prices for sugarcane and other major crops, and called for reforms in the olive sector.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Punjab Seed Corporation has stopped supplying seeds to Balochistan, exacerbating a severe seed shortage with only 4,000 tonnes available against a national demand of 68,000 tonnes.
  • The Ministry of National Food Security informed the committee that only Punjab had implemented seed regulations, while other provinces had not.
  • The committee directed the ministry to issue formal letters to all provinces, with a 15-day deadline for response.
  • The rising cost of fertilisers, particularly DAP and urea, has increased from Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 per bag, prompting the committee to urge the government to intervene and prevent market exploitation.
  • Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain announced a meeting scheduled for Friday to review import data and explore measures to align local prices with global trends.
  • The committee recommended introducing minimum support prices for sugarcane and other major crops, and delayed procurement by sugar mills was criticised for depressing prices and discouraging crop rotation.
  • The current minimum support price for wheat remains unchanged, despite reservations from the IMF.
  • Pakistan's 7 million olive trees compare modestly to global figures, dominated by Spain with 400m, but the country's yield rate stands at 28pc, far exceeding the global average of 6-7pc.
  • Initiatives like the 'Pak Olive' project aim to meet domestic demand by 2030, with cultivation spread across 131 districts and saplings offered at subsidised rates between Rs200-300 through registered nurseries.
  • Challenges in the olive sector include limited post-harvest infrastructure, market access, lack of farmer training, and inadequate zoning data, for which the committee recommended updating zoning clusters, incentivising public-private investment, improving training, and developing national certification and branding systems.

Statistics:

  • 4,000 tonnes of seeds available in Balochistan, against a national demand of 68,000 tonnes.
  • Rise in the cost of fertilisers, DAP and urea, from Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 per bag.
  • 7 million olive trees in Pakistan, dominated by 400m in Spain.
  • Pakistan's olive yield rate stands at 28pc, far exceeding the global average of 6-7pc.
  • Global olive industry valued at $15bn, positioning Pakistan to expand its market share.
  • 'Pak Olive' project aims to meet domestic demand by 2030, with cultivation spread across 131 districts.

Sources:

  • "Tensions emerge between Punjab and Balochistan over seed shortage", Dawn, November 30, 2022.
  • "National Assembly panel calls for support prices, olive sector reforms", Business Recorder, December 1, 2022.
  • "Balochistan seeks NA committee's intervention on seed shortage", The Express Tribune, December 2, 2022.