PSC to supply 418,000 certified wheat seed bags to farmers

ISLAMABAD, Oct 29 (APP): The Punjab Seed Corporation (PSC) will supply 418,000 bags of certified wheat seed across the Punjab province in the upcoming sowing season.
PSC Director Shahid Qadir told Wealth Pakistan that the corporation would distribute more than 10 progressive wheat varieties, ensuring that farmers have access to high-quality, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient seed.
“To facilitate farmers affected by last year’s floods, PSC has reduced the price of each seed bag from Rs6,500 to Rs5,500, providing much-needed relief at the start of the sowing season,” he added.
Qadir said the certified varieties being supplied include Akbar-2019, Dilkash-2020, Fakhar-e-Bhakkar, Aruj-2022, Nishan, Pakistan-2013, Faisalabad-2008, MH-2021, MA-2021, Subhani-2020, and Wafaq-2023. These varieties have been developed to enhance productivity and improve adaptability under Punjab’s diverse agro-climatic conditions.
The Punjab Seed Corporation operates four major processing plants located in Khanewal, Sahiwal, Rahim Yar Khan, and Piplan, in addition to two mini plants, giving it a total annual processing capacity of 90,000 metric tonnes.
To ensure the smooth and timely delivery of certified seed in all districts, the corporation has also set up 17 sales centres in key agricultural regions including Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Vehari, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Piplan, Layyah, Bhakkar, Sargodha, Jhang, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Fateh Jang, and Lahore.
Furthermore, over 2,100 registered seed dealers are collaborating with PSC to make the certified seed conveniently available to farmers in both irrigated and barani (rain-fed) areas.
Wheat sowing in Punjab generally begins in early November, with the optimal sowing window between November 1 and 20. In barani areas, sowing starts slightly earlier, from the third week of October, and can extend into December depending on local rainfall and soil conditions.
Khalid Mahmood Khokhar, Chairman of the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI), told Wealth Pakistan that heavy reliance by farmers on previous harvests has kept the province’s seed replacement rate at a low 26 percent, undermining productivity and resistance to disease.
Ebadur Rehman, Director of Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP), told Wealth Pakistan that the government’s announcement of Rs3,500 per 40 kilograms as the wheat procurement price can boost farmer confidence. He said continued use of non-certified seeds by farmers can lead to a 10 percent decline in overall wheat output this year. “Certified seeds are more resilient against diseases and changing weather patterns,” he noted.
Punjab contributes around 75 percent of Pakistan’s total wheat production, making the quality of seed a key determinant of national food security. With the sowing season about to start, stakeholders agree that use of certified wheat seed is essential to sustaining productivity, reducing losses, and achieving the province’s output targets.