PARC recommends three sunflower, one mustard hybrids

ISLAMABAD: The Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) on Oilseed Crops has recommended three sunflower and one mustard candidate varieties/hybrids.

A meeting of the VEC on Oilseed Crops was held at Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) on Wednesday, which was attended by PARC Chairman Dr Muhammad Azeem Khan, VEC Chairman Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali and committee members belonging to various public and private sector organizations.

Eleven proposals for canola, rapeseed, mustard, groundnut, sesame and sunflower candidate varieties/hybrids were presented by the representatives of respective organizations for evaluation by VEC. After thorough evaluation and discussion, the committee recommended three sunflower and one mustard hybrids.

Moreover, one variety each of groundnut, rapeseed and sesame was also recommended for potential ecologies.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali highlighted the importance of oilseed crops in the national economy and said that efforts were being undertaken to increase the domestic production of canola, rapeseed, mustard, groundnut, sesame and sunflower.