ISLAMABAD: Pakistan imports 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes of high quality certified seed to grow potato crop is imported from Holland, annually, Minister for National Health Service, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar informed the Upper House on Thursday.
Speaking on behalf of minister for food security, she said the seed potato was further multiplied by the national seed companies and then distributed to the farmers.
Currently, she added the volume of certified seed potato was low and added reasons for non-availability of sufficient certified seed potato in the country included that potato varieties imported from Holland were popular among farmers.
Similarly, she added farmer choice potato varieties had not been developed locally in the country and Punjab Seed Corporation had curtailed production of local seed potato because of popularity of imported potato varieties of Holland. She said crop rotation systems were difficult to implement for management of potato cyst disease in particular, adding Sante and Cardinal were Cyst resistant potato varieties already being grown in Central Punjab.
Meanwhile, Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael in a written reply to another question relating to his ministry says cases of irregularities allegedly surfaced in Karachi Port Trust during five years were being investigated by NAB, FIA and under high level inquiry committees. However, he said non of them had been finalized or concluded as yet.
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