Islamabad, September 02, 2021 (PPI-OT):19th meeting of the Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research was held under the Chairmanship of Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan, MNA, at Potato Tissue Culture Lab at Chillas. The Committee was informed by officials of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) about various verities of potato plants production through tissue culture as this is the only solution for getting more potato seed production and PARC is doing its best for achieving the objectives in terms of bumper, potato crop. They, further, informed that presently, we are producing locally, 1% certified seed and relying on imported seed. About 15000 tonnes seed is being imported, worth more than Rs. one billion, annually.

The Committee was also apprised that, per annum, 50,000 plantletings production targets have been fixed through tissues culture in this Lab, and it will be sufficient for 20,000 tonnes certified seed production after five cycles. The Committee appreciated the efforts of the PARC.

MNAs, Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal, Sardar Riaz Mehmood Khan Mazari, Mr. Riaz ul Haq, Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, Mr. Kamal Ud din, and senior officers/ officials from the Ministry NFS and R /PARC attended the meeting.

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