The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council has proposed a Rs4.590 billion initiative to modernize Pakistan’s seed potato sector, aiming to cut reliance on imported seed and improve productivity for more than 10,000 farmers.
The Seed Potato Production and Supply Centre (SPPSC) will run from July 2026 to June 2031 at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), managed through the National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology. The center will serve as a national hub for virus-free, localized seed production, using advanced tissue culture and aeroponics technologies. A modern cold-chain and post-harvest infrastructure is expected to reduce seed losses by 25–30 percent during storage and handling.
The project will deploy an ERP-based digital system to track certification, traceability, and inventory, providing real-time records and quality assurance. Integration of the Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department (FSC&RD) will formalize nationwide seed certification and monitoring.
Facilities will include a tissue culture lab, screen houses, cold storage, and a seed packaging unit, with field multiplications across the country to ensure wide distribution. Public-private partnerships will support scaling seed multiplication, optimizing cold storage, and improving logistics. Training programs will target over 1,600 stakeholders, including farmers, technicians, and regulators, while Korean expertise will facilitate technology transfer and knowledge exchange.
Aligned with the 5Es Framework, 13th Five-Year Plan, UN Sustainable Development Goals, and NAIGP, the SPPSC aims to boost export potential, support import substitution, strengthen cold-chain infrastructure, promote digital certification, and raise farmer incomes. Officials say the project represents a major step toward modernizing Pakistan’s seed systems, enhancing food security, and fostering sustainable agricultural growth.
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