Pakistan eyes higher wheat yields through hybrid seed technology

The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and Guard Agriculture, a private agricultural research company, have entered into a three-year agreement to develop and commercialize hybrid wheat in Pakistan. This collaboration aims to achieve a significant 20 percent increase in per-acre wheat yield, a move considered crucial for boosting the nation's agricultural output. UAF will contribute its expertise in genetics, breeding, and agronomy, while Guard Agriculture will handle field trials, seed production, commercial assessments, and provide research funding. Dr. Zulfikar Ali, UAF Vice Chancellor, highlighted that hybrid wheat could enhance production without escalating farmers' input costs, with potential yields reaching 98 maunds per acre under optimal conditions. Guard Agriculture's CEO, Shahzad Ali Malik, anticipates that commercialization could take an additional three to four years, drawing on their prior success with hybrid rice to improve wheat productivity in Pakistan.