ISLAMABAD: (PR&P, PARC) The Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) meeting held at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) has concluded with a unanimous recommendation of ten high-yielding pulse varieties to be developed for agricultural reform in Pakistan. Pulse plays an important role in global food security and national nutrition. Pakistan needs 1.56 million tonnes of pulses per year. We are independent in the production of mung beans during 2021-22, which is 0.263 million tons against the total requirement of 0.180 million tons. The country is now focusing on increasing the production of other pulse crops such as beans, spinach and mung beans. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Department of Seed Certification and Registration (FSC&RD), the Ministry of Food Security and National Research (MNFS&R), as well as scientists from pulse research institutions in the country.
The meeting was led by Dr. Imtiaz Hussain, Member of Plantation Department (PSD). National Coordinator, Food Pulses, PARC, Islamabad, Dr. Muhammad Mansoor presented 10 candidate forms before the committee. After detailed discussion, Pulse Research Institute, NARC, Islamabad recommended 10 pulse varieties including 01 green bean variety, NIAB, Faisalabad, 01 spinach and 01 mung bean variety, 05 chickpea and 01 mung bean variety, AARI , Faisalabad and NIFA, Peshawar of mushroom . kind of beans. This achievement was made possible by the back-up support that took place from the PSDP project, Advancing Research to Increase Productivity in Pulsa.
In his closing remarks, the WEC chairman said that high yielding, disease and climate resistant varieties play an important role in increasing the productivity of pulses. However, with the expansion of the pulse gene pool, pulse scientists across the country argued that they should focus on increasing seed production from the pulse base, which is BNS, the basic and main seed. Also, there should be a strong bond between researchers and extension workers so that more seeds can be produced to bridge the gap between pulse production and demand in the country.