Pakistan has enough wheat seed to meet only 51 percent of its requirements for the 2026-27 Rabi season, prompting the government to ask private seed companies to reduce prices ahead of sowing.

National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain chaired a meeting on Wednesday with private seed companies and the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) to discuss seed prices and supply between provinces.

The minister said high input costs and limited use of certified wheat seed remained major challenges for farmers. He stressed the need for affordable seed, particularly for small farmers, and called for the timely distribution of available stocks.

He also directed the NSDRA to coordinate with provincial authorities and seed suppliers to ensure the smooth movement of wheat seed between provinces and prevent delays during the sowing season.

According to an official document, Pakistan has 611,793 tonnes of wheat seed available for the upcoming Rabi season against a total requirement of 1.19 million tonnes.

Punjab has the largest supply at 553,009 tonnes, enough to cover 67 percent of its requirement. Sindh has 40,874 tonnes, meeting 23 percent of its needs.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 7,459 tonnes, covering just 7 percent of its requirement, while Balochistan has 10,452 tonnes, meeting 13 percent.

Total wheat seed availability stood at 574,330 tonnes during the 2025-26 Rabi season, also covering 51 percent of the requirement.

The government is promoting high-yielding, disease-resistant and climate-resilient wheat varieties through research and seed multiplication programs to improve production.