Food Department Punjab has launched Wheat Seed Policy for year 2020 to procure wheat seed for current year to ensure provision of seed in required quantity for next crop.

Spokesperson of Food Department said here on Friday that all the hurdles come in the way of legal wheat seed procurement has been removed under the said policy. All the issues of most pressing nature faced by Punjab Seed Corporation as well as Private Seed Companies operating within Punjab have been resolved.

According to Spokesperson all vehicles carrying valid convoy notes of Punjab Seed Corporation and that of Federal Seed Certification Agency in respect of private companies shall not be stopped by any local administration. Whereas there is no restriction whatsoever on inters district movement of Wheat/Wheat Seed as per the Wheat Procurement Policy, 2020 duly approved by the Provincial Cabinet.

Spokesperson said that District Food Controllers of the Districts where warehouses of Seed Companies are situated shall sign the convoy notes to be countersigned by District Food Controllers of dispatching districts. Furthermore, District Food Controllers of both districts shall under no circumstances delay issuance of convoy note duly issued by the Federal Seed Certification Agency.

District Food Controller not confirming to instructions must be dealt with an iron hand. Furthermore, all Divisional Commissioners will pass on necessary instructions to all Deputy Commissioners accordingly for strict compliance in true letter and spirit, said the spokesperson.

He further stated that certified seed plays a critical role in increased per acre yield. If legitimate players are not allowed to procure seed in time, overall wheat production as well as food security of the province in the next wheat harvesting season may be seriously jeopardize.