Punjab Seed Corporation

Access to seeds for smallholder farmers
While Punjab Seed Corporation has marketing and sales objectives for ensuring access to seeds for smallholder famers, the company has an opportunity to expand its strategy to include other measurement areas and develop time-bound targets.

The company provides limited insight into its position and activities related to genetic resources and intellectual property management. As it is important that seed companies contribute to genetic resources and intellectual property management that supports smallholder agriculture, the company could provide more insights into its activities for others to learn from.

No relevant disclosure was found for the company in the research and development measurement area.

Seed production activities in index region
Punjab Seed Corporation has seed production locations in Pakistan, where it engages local farmers. The company has an opportunity to provide examples of how local players are involved in its seed production activities.

Quality management in seed production in index countries
The company has established a laboratory to test the quality of their seeds. In addition, its seed production undergoes standardized government checks, which are formalized under federal seed certifications. The company also has obtained an ISO 9001 certification for its seed production, but it is unclear how much of its seed production is covered by this quality management system.

Social and labour rights in seed production
The company does not disclose a policy committing to prohibit child and forced labour nor does it disclose a commitment to respect the health and safety of workers, either when seed production is carried out by the company itself or through an intermediary. Furthermore, the company does not disclose whether it pays its workers a living wage or requires its intermediaries to do so.

Packaging and labelling
Punjab Seed Corporation offers seed packages in appropriate sizes for smallholder farmers, including 1 kg packages of gourd and onion and 10 kg packages of carrot and sorghum. The company could disclose whether it uses local languages and track and trace systems on its packaging.

Quality assurance and after-sales
Punjab Seed Corporation has internal seed testing labs and conducts germination and seed health tests. Additionally, the company collaborates with governmental organisations to prevent the sale of counterfeit seeds. The company could disclose its protocols for monitoring its distribution network, ensuring that seeds are not sold beyond their shelf life and providing after-sales support to smallholder farmers.

Extension services
Punjab Seed Corporation provides advisory services to smallholder farmers across the region through plot visits, where the company’s staff offers farmers agronomic advice on how to achieve better yields. This includes training in better practices on ploughing, sowing, thinning, irrigation, weed control and plant protection. The company has the opportunity to track the number of smallholder farmers reached in the region.

Programmes for women farmers and next-generation farmers
The company provides extension services in the region but can expand its programmes to target women and next-generation farmers.

Information and communications technology (ICT) and access to output markets
The company has an opportunity to offer programmes to advance the use of information and communication technology by smallholder farmers and to improve the access of smallholder farmers to output markets

Maize
Potato
Rice, paddy
Sorghum
Wheat

Carrot
Gourd
Green pea
Okra
Onion

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