The Ministry of National Food Security and Research issues this clarification regarding a news article published in Dawn on 14 December 2025 titled “Seed watchdog cutbacks spark yield fears.” The Ministry acknowledges the concerns raised in the public discourse; however, the article does not fully reflect the comprehensive institutional, regulatory, and digital reforms currently being implemented to modernize Pakistan’s seed sector and ensure the availability of quality seed to farmers.
Recognizing long-standing challenges such as fragmented seed policies, weak regulatory enforcement, limited availability of improved and climate-resilient varieties, and outdated seed certification protocols, the Government enacted the Seed (Amendment) Act, 2024. This reform established the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) as a modern, lean, and efficient entity mandated to address systemic gaps, strengthen regulatory oversight, support varietal development, and ensure farmers’ access to high-quality, genetically true-to-type seeds.
As part of this reform process, the Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department (FSC&RD) was merged into NSDRA. This merger was accompanied by strategic rightsizing that reduced inefficient non-technical staff while retaining and strengthening technical capacity. The transformation has enabled NSDRA to function as a streamlined, performance-oriented authority capable of enforcing quality standards and delivering timely regulatory services across the seed value chain.
Digitalization forms a core pillar of NSDRA’s modernization efforts. A comprehensive MIS-based system has been implemented to provide end-to-end digital traceability across seed sector operations. These include registration and renewal of seed companies, variety approvals, nursery and seed processing plant registration, fruit plant certification, internationally accredited seed testing, and market monitoring. The Truth in Labelling Scheme has been notified and implemented, introducing performance-based regulatory processes that ensure transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency.
In terms of regulatory achievements, NSDRA has submitted the National Seed Policy 2025 and the Agriculture Biotechnology Policy 2025, and has framed crop-specific strategies. The Authority has cancelled 430 non-compliant seed companies and introduced a categorization system based on research and development capacity and technology adoption. Internationally harmonized certification protocols for Olive, Mango, and Citrus have been framed. Additionally, NSDRA regulated the interprovincial movement of 221,731 metric tons of wheat seed, ensuring the availability of certified seed across provinces and achieving historically high seed replacement rates, including 67 percent in Sindh during the current Rabi season.
NSDRA has further strengthened coordination in research, varietal development, and innovation. The Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) has been digitally revamped and made functional across all major crops. During FY 2024–25, 208 improved varieties were approved, covering wheat, rice, cotton, maize, fodder, cereals, oilseeds, and horticultural crops. A dedicated VEC fund disbursement mechanism has been established to ensure timely allocation of resources for varietal trials and approvals. The Authority has facilitated the import of elite germplasm from CGIAR centers such as CIMMYT and conducted high-level consultations with heads of agricultural research departments on 3 December 2025 to develop a unified national roadmap for varietal research and development.
The Ministry reiterates that NSDRA is actively modernizing Pakistan’s seed sector through digital traceability, strengthened regulatory enforcement, improved research coordination, and accelerated varietal development. These reforms have enhanced institutional capacity, improved farmer access to certified high-quality seeds, and positioned the seed sector as a modern, efficient, and accountable system.
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research remains committed to ensuring that farmers across Pakistan benefit from these reforms, contributing to improved productivity, resilience, and national food security.
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