STAFF REPORT ISB: The PARC has marketed 30 tons canola hybrid seed to small farmers on nominal rates to eliminate private sector companies monopoly.
The PARC introduced canola during 1980. Scientists bring change in the life of small farmers through introducing high yielding crop varieties and production technologies.
“Scientists also focus on that crops which have great potential to enhance edible production in the country and to minimise the foreign exchange bill on import of edible oil,” said PARC Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmad here at the NARC premises while inaugurating a recently concluded five-day training course on Canola Hybrid Development.
The training course was organised by PARC in collaboration with Agriculture Research Department, KP at NARC under the ADP Project Indigenisation of Hybrid Research and Development Technology for Crops, Fruits and Vegetables.
Dr Ahmad said Pakistan is facing a serious shortage of edible oil due to its limited domestic production. Edible oil requirement is increasing every year due to increase in population and consumption. He further said that PARC has developed canola hybrid and sunflower (PARSUN-3) hybrids with good yield potential and took the initiative to produce hybrid seed with PARC Agro-Tech Company on pilot scale.