We have to evaluate pure seed to increase wheat and cotton production. This was stated by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Syed Fakhr Imam during a special meeting on Wednesday. He said that Speaker Asad Qaiser had constituted the committee keeping in view all the members. The purpose of the committee is to improve the living standards of the farmers. Syed Fakhr Imam said that according to the Rules of Business, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research formulates policy for the country's agriculture. After the 18th Amendment, the Federal Ministry and the Provincial Agriculture Departments should work in unison. Syed Fakhr Imam said that no investment has been made in agriculture in the last 25 years. Value addition is required. Syed Fakhr Imam said that from 1985 to 1992, the country saw great progress in cotton production. Pink bull worms and white fly are big pest of cotton. We also need to work on pesticides. We will evaluate 40% pure cotton seed through ginning. The aim is to increase cotton producwheat. Syed Fakhr Imam said that hoarding and smuggling are methods of creating shortage of wheat. It is the responsibility of the provinces to identify cartelization. The Federal Minister for Food Security said that better seeds are needed to increase wheat production. We are trying to evaluate 3.5 to 4 lakh quality wheat seeds and will try to give them to the farmer at subsidized rate. Mangoes were exported more this year than last year. Farming needs to be modernized. Farmers should be trained.
