Islamabad: The Government of Pakistan has accelerated institutional reforms and modernization initiatives in the seed sector to ensure the availability of quality, certified seed for farmers across the country, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research said on Friday.
According to a press release, the reforms address long-standing challenges including fragmented seed policies, weak regulatory mechanisms, limited access to improved and climate-resilient varieties, and outdated certification systems. To this end, the government enacted the Seed (Amendment) Act, 2024, establishing the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) as a specialized body to strengthen regulatory oversight, support varietal development, and ensure genetically true-to-type seed.
As part of the transition, the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSC and RD) was merged into NSDRA. The restructuring involved strategic rightsizing and capacity enhancement, enabling the Authority to function as a performance-oriented institution across the seed value chain.
Digital transformation has been made a core component of NSDRA's operations. A comprehensive MIS-based system has been introduced to ensure end-to-end traceability, covering seed company registration and renewal, variety approval, nursery and processing plant registration, fruit plant certification, internationally accredited seed testing, and market monitoring. The Truth in Labelling Scheme has also been notified and implemented to improve transparency and accountability.
On the policy front, NSDRA has submitted the National Seed Policy 2025 and the Agriculture Biotechnology Policy 2025, along with crop-specific strategies. Regulatory enforcement actions have included the cancellation of 430 non-compliant seed companies and the introduction of a categorization system based on research capacity and technology adoption. Internationally harmonized certification protocols for olive, mango, and citrus have been developed. The Authority also regulated the interprovincial movement of 221,731 metric tons of wheat seed, contributing to improved seed replacement rates, including 67 percent in Sindh during the current Rabi season.
Research coordination and varietal development have been strengthened through the digital revamping of the Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC). During FY 2024-25, a total of 208 improved crop varieties were approved across major crops, including wheat, rice, cotton, maize, oilseeds, fodder, and horticulture. A dedicated VEC fund disbursement mechanism has been introduced to ensure timely varietal trials. The Authority also facilitated the import of elite germplasm from CGIAR centers, including CIMMYT, and held consultations with agricultural research heads on December 3, 2025, to develop a unified national roadmap.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continued reforms aimed at strengthening regulation, enhancing institutional capacity, and improving coordination within the seed sector to boost agricultural productivity and ensure national food security.