Seeds experts team from national food security visits Chitral

CHITRAL: Director General Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department, Ministry of National Food Security, Islamabad paid a three-day visit to Chitral. He also visited MKS Seed center where high quality seed of Onion is preparing and packing which are in great demand not only in the whole country but also abroad. Sajjad Ali of MKS and Manager Aftab Ahmed showed them different sectors where onion seeds are passing through different processes and packed which are not only supplied to the whole country but also exported abroad. Many varieties and qualities of onion seeds are being packing here and they are being sent to all over Pakistan and abroad. There is also an institution that is recognized all over the world for its onion seeds.
Sajjad Ali said that the onion seed manufacturing company was set up here because nature has given Chitral a very good climatic environment where the humidity in the air is very low as compared to other areas. He said that our company never compromises on quality and we try to produce a seed that can give maximum yield.
Aftab Ahmed said that he and his staff regularly go to the fields and meet the landlords and farmers by planting onions in different areas and then collecting the flowers, seeds are made from it which is used not only in Pakistan but also abroad. Farmers also get the best seeds which are not much affected by climate change and diseases. The company also employs women from Upper and Lower Chitral. Saleha Ahmed has a master’s degree in botany. “I was unemployed after my master’s degree in botany, but I got a job here and had the opportunity to learn a lot. We didn’t know much about seeds,” She said. Some learning and skill can also reduce their expenses by creating a kitchen garden at home.
Salma Bibi is a local woman and she also working in the company which mostly packs seeds. She says that we have got a decent job here and gaining livelihood for our family near to home.
The women folk of the area demanded that the institution be further expanded to include Chitral so that the people of the backward areas, who are mostly unemployed, can also get employment opportunities.
On the request of Sajjad Ali, the Director General assured that he would also provide technical training to the staff working in his organization so that their work could be further improved.
Director General also visited Bumborat Kalash valley and different areas of Chitral to analyze agriculture sector in chitral.