Plant Science

Biography

Biography: Habib Ahmad

Abstract

Pakistan is an agricultural country facing severe shortage of edible oil production. Statistics about the edible oil import Pakistan shows that it ranks no 1 on the list of imported food items. For instance the total edible oil demand of the country for the year 2017-18, was 4.268 million tonnes, out of which only12% i.e. 0.533 million tonnes was produced locally and the rest (88%) was imported costing US$ 3.63 billion of foreign exchange. It is hurting to note that that since year 2000, the imports of edible oil is doubled, while progress in its domestic production is stagnant. The availability of high yielding quality certified seed the main obstacle for getting self-sufficiency in edible oil production. Hence a research project was initiated on wide hybridization for genetic transgression through alien genetic transfer in 1998. A high yielding, early maturing, non-shattering, aphid resistant rapeseed variety, Hasnain 2013 was developed and was released by the relevant agencies in 2013, for general cultivation. Hasnain 2013 produce three times more seed as compared to local cultivars. Hence a project was initiated for maximization of Hasnain-2013 through production of best quality certified seed for improved farm production for improved livelihood of the farmer and reducing import bill of the edible oil. The early generation seed was sown on 200 acres of land of the progressive farmers. Simultaneously, on site field days and awareness seminars were organized regarding field performance of Hasnain-2013. We distributed 12.5 tons of certified seed, wherefrom 50 tons of certified seed is procured. The variety produce almost three times more seed as compared to local cultivars, hence widely accepted by the rapeseed growers. This paper communicates our field experience with the development of improved seed, its maintenance, maximization, certification and large scale seed production for extraction of edible oil and sustainably running the seed industry.