Monsanto Pakistan informed local farmers about the importance of high-yield hybrid corn seeds
Sindh farmers to benefit from high-yield hybrid corn seeds this year. Around 200 local farmers attended the awareness event in Allah Dino Sandh, Mitiari to learn about the benefits of high-yield hybrid seeds.
The event was organized by Monsanto Pakistan at the location of their hybrid corn field trials. The purpose of the event was to showcase the performance and agronomy of hybrid corn seeds suitable to Sindh’s climatic conditions.
In addition to farmers and members of the Sindh Abadgar Board, officials from the Sindh Agriculture Department and Sindh Agriculture University also attended the event and observed the field trial.
Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Yousaf Sandh, a prominent local farmer, said that corn hybrid seeds have been a great success in Punjab, resulting in increased productivity and enhanced income for the farmer. The climatic conditions in Sindh are very different and field trials such as these will pave the way for corn hybrids that show adaptability. He appreciated the initiative taken by Monsanto and extended his support for similar endeavors in the future, he said.
While briefing the farmers, Monsanto’s Corporate Engagement Lead, Azeem Niazi explained that corn is now emerging as an important crop and will continue to play a significant role in ensuring food security in the country.
“Our aim is to work closely with farmers, understand the challenges they face and tailor our technology accordingly. The main objective of these trials and demonstrations is to educate the farmer about our high-yield hybrid seeds and transfer the agronomic knowledge for optimum results” he further added.
In his concluding remarks, Monsanto’s Regulatory Affairs Lead, Muhammad Asim, emphasized the need to adopt and promote latest agriculture technology. He explained that in future the challenges posed by rising world population, changing climatic conditions, scarcity of water and limited farmland, can only be addressed through technological innovations, allowing for more efficient use of resources and higher crop productivity.
The corn crop is not seen as a lucrative crop by Sindh farmers as much of the benefits of high-yielding hybrid seeds are lost due to lack of understanding of requisite agronomic practices. Through the provision of quality corn hybrid seeds and the right agronomic knowledge, the prevailing trend can be changed.
At present, Pakistan is self-sufficient in corn, with over 60% of its produce utilized for animal feed, whereas the remaining is consumed by various other industries and food processing facilities. However, considering the ever-increasing demand for corn, including the impressive 10-12% growth shown by the poultry industry, corn crop productivity is going to be critical for the future.