Pakistan's Ministry of National Food Security and Research has asked private seed firms to lower wheat seed prices ahead of the Rabi sowing season, because existing stock can meet only 51 percent of the nation's total seed need.
National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain led a Wednesday meeting with private seed companies and the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) to discuss seed pricing and inter-province seed movement.
The gathering aimed at cutting farmers' input costs and guaranteeing a steady seed supply across provinces to enable timely sowing and safeguard national food security, an official statement said.
Hussain noted that limited use of certified wheat seed remains a key obstacle for wheat output, and the government is promoting climate-resilient, high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties through research and seed multiplication programmes.
He stressed that affordable seed and prompt availability are especially crucial for smallholders, whose buying choices depend on the combined cost of seed, fertilizer, irrigation and other inputs.
The minister instructed NSDRA to ensure smooth inter-provincial wheat seed movement.
He added that coordination with provincial authorities and seed suppliers is needed to solve transport and distribution challenges and to get seed to farmers within the proper sowing window.
A document on wheat seed availability for the 2026-27 Rabi season shows 611,793.06 tons of seed are procured, covering 51 percent of the total requirement of 1,191,555 tons.
Punjab holds 553,008.75 tons, meeting 67 percent of its need; Sindh has 40,873.89 tons, covering 23 percent; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa possesses 7,458.62 tons, or 7 percent; and Balochistan holds 10,451.80 tons, or 13 percent.
For the previous 2025-26 Rabi season, total wheat seed availability was 574,329.53 tons, also representing 51 percent of the requirement.
