The Ministry of National Food Security and Research provides an overview of ongoing institutional reforms and modernization initiatives being undertaken to strengthen Pakistan’s seed sector and ensure the availability of quality, certified seed for farmers nationwide.
In response to long-standing structural challenges—such as fragmented seed policies, limited regulatory effectiveness, constrained access to improved and climate-resilient varieties, and outdated certification systems—the Government enacted the Seed (Amendment) Act, 2024. The Act established the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) as a streamlined and specialized institution mandated to enhance regulatory oversight, support varietal development, and ensure the provision of genetically true-to-type seed.
As part of this institutional transition, the Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department (FSC&RD) was integrated into NSDRA. The restructuring process included strategic rightsizing, with a focus on optimizing human resources and strengthening technical capacity. This approach has enabled NSDRA to operate as an efficient, performance-oriented authority across the seed value chain.
Digital transformation constitutes a central component of the Authority’s operational framework. A comprehensive MIS-based digital system has been implemented to enable end-to-end traceability of seed sector activities. These include registration and renewal of seed companies, variety approval processes, registration of nurseries and seed processing plants, fruit plant certification, internationally accredited seed testing, and market monitoring. The Truth in Labelling Scheme has also been notified and implemented, introducing performance-based regulatory mechanisms to enhance transparency and accountability.
In the policy and regulatory domain, NSDRA has submitted the National Seed Policy 2025 and the Agriculture Biotechnology Policy 2025, in addition to framing crop-specific strategies. Regulatory actions have included the cancellation of 430 non-compliant seed companies and the introduction of a categorization system based on research and development capacity and technology adoption. Internationally harmonized certification protocols have been developed for olive, mango, and citrus. The Authority has further regulated the interprovincial movement of 221,731 metric tons of wheat seed, supporting certified seed availability across provinces and contributing to improved seed replacement rates, including 67 percent in Sindh during the current Rabi season.
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research continues to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness, enhancing institutional capacity, and improving coordination across the seed sector. These initiatives are intended to support farmer access to certified, high-quality seed and contribute to improved agricultural productivity and national food security.
