Pakistan has intensified enforcement of its seed regulatory framework by expanding the network of authorised seed inspectors across provinces to curb the sale of counterfeit and substandard seeds and protect farmers’ interests.
According to an official document obtained by Wealth Pakistan, the initiative is being led by the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSC&RD) under the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA), which implements the Seed Act, 1976, and its subsequent amendments.
The FSC&RD’s core mandate is to prevent the marketing and distribution of unapproved or low-quality seeds. The document noted that current staffing levels are insufficient to monitor the growing scale of seed business operations nationwide.
To address the shortfall, NSDRA has delegated seed inspector powers under Section 19 of the Seed Act to provincial agriculture officials. So far, 134 officers in Punjab have been notified as seed inspectors, leveraging the province’s extensive field presence. Sindh has recommended 93 officers for similar notification, and other provinces have been invited to submit nominations.
The document emphasised that mandatory registration of all seed sector stakeholders—including importers, producers, exporters, and dealers—is essential to ensure quality assurance throughout the supply chain and protect farmers from losses linked to poor-quality inputs.
NSDRA said the broader objectives of the initiative include expanding field coverage, increasing monitoring frequency, ensuring compliance with seed quality and certification standards, strengthening protections against fraudulent and substandard seeds, and establishing a harmonised national enforcement framework.
