Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Recollections and remembrances

very first year of its implementation i.e. from 1974 to 1975-76.SELF SUFFICIENCYI as asked what was the most noteworthy contribution the Agriculture inquirycommittee to the solutions of the problem of agricultural production in Pakistan. Iwould say the discovery that the use of quality seed in all crops holds the key toself-sufficiency. This solution sounds simple but because of the neglect it hassuffered for about three decades. It cannot be reiterated or too often oremphasized too much with the same soil, the same water supply and all otherinputs, the sole factor of quality seed can as much as double the yield. Egged onby this realization here the Government of Pakistan was doing to procureadequate supplies of quality seeds in all major crops. A seed industry project at atotal cost of Rs.560 million had been prepared with international assistance. Theindustry was to be run on scientific lines and for that purpose seed laws forregulating and controlling the quality of seed had been enacted. Under theirprovision a national Seed Council and Seed Certification Agency had been set upat federal level. Seed Councils and Seed Corporation had also been set up in thelargest seed producing Province of Punjab and Sindh. The Seed Corporationwould produce quality seeds of wheat, rice, maize and cotton. Similarly, inN.W.F.P and Baluchistan vegetable and potato projects would be started. Theseed industry was scheduled to go into full swing by 1977-78 and produce about29 million maunds of certified seeds of all principal crops.Meanwhile for an immediate start 17,000 tons of quality seed of wheat wasimported in 1975-76 at a cost of Rs.8.7 crore. It is necessary to mention that thisimported seed which cost the government Rs.190 per maund was sold to farmersat the highly subsidized rate of Rs.70 a maund. The Government in the processdished out Rs.55 crore. From a mere 3.9 lakh maunds of seed in 1970-71 theGovernment had brought distribution of quality seed to a level of about 35 lakhmaunds in 1976-77.FERTILSERS AND PESTICIDES:In fertilizers the consumption had gone up from 3,80,000 N/Tons in 1970-71 to6,50,000 N/Tons by 1975-76 and as per programme this was to go further up to7,00,000 N/Tons by 1976-77. The fertilizer prices had been suitably rationalized.To ensure full availability the total production in the country had beenprogrammed to increase from existing level of 3,16,000 N/Tons to 9,40,000N/Tons by 1980 by establishing new factories and expansion of existing ones.Plant protection through pesticides is a matter of equal importance. The people’sGovernment has not only strengthened the plant protection measures butZulfikar Ali Bhutto, Recollections and Remembrances; Copyright © www.bhutto.org 117