In a significant policy shift aimed at supporting the agricultural community, the Sindh government has decided to directly provide farmers with government-produced seeds at affordable rates, moving away from purchasing from the private sector. This decision was finalized during a high-level review of the Sindh Seed Corporation's performance.
Key Decisions from the High-Level Meeting
An important meeting, chaired by Sindh's Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Mahar, was held at the Sindh Secretariat. The session was attended by key officials including Agriculture Secretary Muhammad Zaman Narejo, Additional Secretary Idrees Khoso, and the Managing Director of Sindh Seed Corporation, Abdul Fattah Halio.
The minister directed the corporation to ensure the geo-marking of all its agricultural lands. This process will use GPS and digital mapping to accurately record the boundaries, area, and location of each plot in computer systems, a move designed to protect state assets from illegal occupation.
Improved Performance and Financial Turnaround
During the briefing, MD Abdul Fattah Halio presented a promising report on the corporation's performance. He highlighted a substantial increase in wheat cultivation, which has expanded by 352 acres compared to previous years, bringing the total area under wheat to 2,242.85 acres.
The corporation has also seen improved revenue streams:
- Generated 12 million rupees from cotton sales.
- Earned 16 million rupees from rice (paddy).
- Produced revenue from fish ponds operated on its land.
In a positive development for employees, salaries for four months have been disbursed, with funds secured for the next four months. The corporation supplied 2,170 bags of wheat seeds to farmers and processed 295 maunds of cotton through ginning.
Cracking Down on Encroachment and Future Plans
The meeting was informed about ongoing efforts to reclaim illegally occupied land. Two First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against land grabbers. Notably, 120 acres of land in Ghotki district were successfully recovered from illegal possession and have since been cultivated with wheat.
Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Mahar emphasized that the provincial government is committed to ensuring that farmers receive quality government seeds at low cost in the future. He instructed the corporation to accelerate its work towards this goal and to actively use social media to communicate its performance and initiatives to the public.
The performance report will be presented first to a sub-committee of the Sindh Cabinet and then to the full cabinet for final approval. The minister noted that the Sindh Seed Corporation, which was once struggling, has now achieved financial stability and is effectively serving the farming community.
