Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, said that Pakistan-Korea cooperation in agricultural research and technology was helping Pakistan strengthen its capacity to produce disease-free and quality potato seed locally, reduce dependence on imported seed and improve agricultural productivity.
Addressing a programme on the Pakistan-Korea Collaborative Project on Certified Seed Potato Production at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), the Federal Minister said the initiative was an important step towards developing a sustainable local seed system for the potato sector. He said the use of modern technologies, particularly aeroponic production, would help ensure the availability of healthy and quality planting material for farmers and contribute to enhanced potato yields and food security.
The project, being implemented with the cooperation of the Government of Korea and the Korea Program on International Agriculture (KOPIA), is focused on the production and supply of certified seed potatoes, development of modern aeroponic infrastructure and capacity building of technical manpower. The Minister said Pakistan had set a target of producing 160,000 tonnes of certified potato seed annually, which would help meet a significant portion of the country’s seed requirement through local production.
He said the initiative would not remain limited to research facilities, adding that modern agricultural technologies developed at research centres would be transferred to farmers and the private sector. This approach, he said, would help bridge the gap between scientific research and field-level agricultural production while creating a stronger foundation for a competitive potato value chain.
The Federal Minister appreciated the Government of Korea and KOPIA for their technical support and said the progress achieved under the project demonstrated the potential of Pakistan-Korea cooperation in addressing practical challenges faced by the country’s agriculture. He said Pakistan would continue to work with Korea to expand collaboration in smart agriculture, horticulture, livestock, agricultural mechanization and other emerging areas.
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea appreciated the longstanding cooperation between Pakistan and Korea in agriculture, research and technology. He said the certified seed potato project was a practical example of bilateral cooperation that could directly benefit farmers. He expressed his support for further collaboration in modern agricultural technologies, knowledge sharing and capacity building.
Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Dr. Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, said that PARC and NARC were committed to developing research-based solutions for Pakistan’s agricultural challenges. He said the Pakistan-Korea partnership was strengthening the country’s certified seed production system and introducing modern technologies that could improve productivity and reduce reliance on imported planting material. He also emphasized the potential for expanding cooperation into agricultural mechanization, smart farming, livestock and horticulture.
The participants reviewed progress under the Pakistan-Korea Certified Seed Potato Project and visited the aeroponic and screen-house facilities at NARC, where they were briefed on ongoing research, seed multiplication and technology development activities.
The project marks an important step in Pakistan-Korea agricultural cooperation, combining Korean technological expertise with Pakistan’s agricultural research capabilities to establish a stronger and more sustainable local system for quality potato seed production.
