When contacted the director general Agriculture Extension Muhammad Naeem Kurijo conceded the poor availability of quality wheat seed but at the same time added that arrangement has been made to clean and grade the seeds of farmers at a nominal cost of Rs 10 per 40 kg.
He said for this purpose four centres have been set up at Sakrand, Tandojam, Kotdigi and Ghotki besides arrangements are being made to provide mobile service to process wheat seeds at the farmers' doorsteps. He hoped that this would greatly help cover the seeds' availability problem.
He said the Agriculture Extension has planned to organise seminars at Taluka level to provide guidance to wheat growers about modern methods of wheat cultivation and farm management in early sowing areas during the current month while this process will continue till the wheat sowing is over in the province.
SPURIOUS PESTICIDES: He said: "The farmers are being advised to adopt Integrated Pest Management practices while the EDOs Agriculture have been directed to maintain strict vigil against the marketing of sub-standard and spurious pesticides and fertiliser and FIR should be lodged at police station without delay against those found guilty.
When contacted, the president Sindh Abadgar Board said that following the closer of Seed Corporation and failure of the Foundation Seed Cell working under Agriculture Research in processing and multiplying seeds have provided and opportunity to private seeds companies to market seeds which are not suitable for early maturing crops.
Referring to film screening in villages about modern methods of cultivation and messages on TV and radio he said, 'it is wastage of money unless the required quality inputs are assured'.