By Ahmed Khan
A sudden warning from agriculture experts has put Sindh’s farming future under a sharp spotlight. Experts say that without stronger Sindh seed development, the province will continue lagging behind regional neighbors, as farmers struggle to access high-quality, climate-resilient seed varieties.
For a start, Mahmood Nawaz Shah, President of the Sindh Abadgar Board, explained that seed quality decides everything that comes after. “High-quality seed is the foundation of agricultural productivity,” he said.
He noted that no amount of fertilizer or water can fix the damage caused by weak, uncertified seeds that cannot handle heat or tough weather conditions.
Moving forward, Shah told this reporter that other countries facing similar climate problems had already poured major resources into seed research.
As a result, they now grow heat-tolerant, flood-resistant, and early-maturing varieties that keep harvests steady even during difficult seasons.
Adding to this concern, he pointed out how Sindh’s crop performance is falling more sharply behind nations using advanced seed technology.
Without progress in new breeding methods, Shah said, Sindh risks growing even more dependent on expensive imported food.
At the same time, he urged stronger cooperation between the public and private sectors to speed up seed development in the province.
Public Research Challenges in Sindh
On the public side, Sindh’s research institutions once played a central role in breeding new varieties. But experts now say limited budgets, old laboratories, and slow certification procedures are blocking progress.
Private Sector Interest and Obstacles
On the private side, seed companies have shown rising interest in bringing high-yield hybrids to the market, especially for maize, rice, and vegetables. Still, many firms hesitate to expand in Sindh unless clearer rules and better protections are put in place.
Opportunities for Joint Ventures
In response, agriculture expert Mustafa Bhargari said there was “tremendous scope for joint ventures between local research institutes and global seed developers.”
He explained that Sindh’s climate zones are unique, and that only long-term cooperation and steady field trials can create varieties that truly fit local conditions.
Regulatory Hurdles and Counterfeit Seeds
At the regulatory level, Bhargari noted that weak oversight makes it hard to guarantee that only certified seed reaches farmers. He called for a stronger provincial certification authority with modern testing labs, transparent standards, and digital monitoring tools to block the sale of fake seed. He stressed that counterfeit seed continues to harm small farmers who cannot verify what they buy. “A strong regulatory system will protect farmers and encourage innovation,” he said.
Future of Sindh Seed Development
Looking ahead, he also highlighted the need to maintain germplasm banks and invest in biotechnology tools that can speed up breeding. Without scientific support, he warned, Sindh’s agriculture will struggle to handle the next decade of climate pressure.
More broadly, experts argued that improving seed quality remains the most effective way to raise yields, strengthen climate resilience, and improve farmer incomes.
In the wider picture, Sindh has long been considered the agricultural backbone of Pakistan, contributing large shares of wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, and oilseeds.
Yet productivity has remained stuck for years due to old seed varieties, inconsistent certification, and low private-sector investment. Rising temperatures, repeated floods, and damaged soil have only made the need for better seeds more urgent.
Finally, agriculture experts said Sindh’s potential is still enormous, but the lack of a strong seed development program is holding the province back. Many farmers still rely on uncertified seed or re-used grains, which leads to weak germination, higher disease risks, and lower crop output.
Author Profile
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Ahmed Khan is a business journalist who specializes in Pakistan’s financial markets, corporate earnings, and economic policy.
With a keen eye for market trends and investor behavior, he breaks down complex financial developments into clear, insightful stories for everyday readers.
