Tobacco Growers' Concerns and National Seed Policy Unveiled in Pakistan's Agricultural Landscape

Strategic Insights -

The Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research in Pakistan addressed pressing issues facing tobacco growers and unveiled a new National Seed Policy at its 18th meeting on August 21, 2025, at the Parliament House. Tobacco growers expressed concerns over reduced purchase quotas, unfair pricing, crop rejection, and mistreatment at buying centers, with companies favoring dealers over direct farmer purchases. The Ministry of National Food Security and Research was directed to convene a meeting with stakeholders within a week to resolve these issues. The National Seed Policy aims to enhance crop production, improve food security, and promote price stability, while protecting farmers' interests and attracting private investment.

Key Takeaways:

  • Tobacco growers in Pakistan expressed concerns over reduced purchase quotas, unfair pricing, crop rejection, and mistreatment at buying centers, with companies favoring dealers over direct farmer purchases.
  • The purchase quota has dropped from 36 million kg to 24 million kg over the past two years, affecting tobacco growers' livelihoods.
  • The new National Seed Policy aims to enhance crop production, improve food security, and promote price stability by protecting farmers' interests and attracting private investment.
  • The policy proposes a merger of the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department with the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority to empower cultivators to authenticate seeds via SMS.
  • The policy addresses key issues, including low seed replacement rate, import reliance, limited seed exports, and inadequate research.
  • Counterfeit seeds, limited cultivator awareness, GMO resistance, restricted access to superior germplasm, skill shortages, poor infrastructure, and weak inter-agency cooperation were identified as obstacles.
  • Concerns were raised about the ineffective prosecution of companies selling fake seeds, prompting the committee to involve the Ministry of Law and Justice and provincial governments to ensure stricter enforcement of seed regulations.
  • MNA Syed Tariq Hussain chaired the meeting, while MNA Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur attended as a Special Invitee.

Statistics:

  • Purchase quota reduction: 36 million kg to 24 million kg over the past two years.
  • Expected benefits of the National Seed Policy:

+ Enhanced crop production

+ Improved food security

+ Price stability in agricultural commodity exchanges

+ Protection of farmers' interests

+ Enhanced foreign exchange reserves through export potential

+ Facilitated access to regional exchanges

Sources:

  • [Pakistan Parliament Briefing, August 21, 2025]
  • [Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Pakistan]
  • [Seed Act, 2024, Pakistan]
  • [Government of Pakistan, [No Date]]