KOICA Pakistan Office carried out a feasibility survey from 10 to 22 November 2025 to advance plans for a Seed Potato Center at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. The proposed 2027–2031 project, budgeted at USD 13.07 million, aims to raise seed potato self-sufficiency and strengthen national food security by establishing dedicated infrastructure and production facilities.
The assessment examined the need for a central SPPSC building housing a tissue culture laboratory, a crop protection research laboratory, and cultivation and soil research facilities. Specific production and multiplication components under review included hydroponic greenhouses, screen houses and cold storage units to ensure year-round seed potato supply and quality.
Field visits in Punjab covered research institutes, seed importers and farmer cooperatives in Sahiwal, Okara and Kasur to test practical demand and operational feasibility. In Islamabad the team inspected the proposed construction site inside the NARC complex and held meetings with the Ministry of National Food Security & Research and the National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology to align technical and regulatory considerations.
Discussions with PARC, identified as the likely implementing partner, focused on establishing effective seed potato multiplication and certification systems, alongside capacity building for sustained production. The feasibility study also reviewed site readiness and stakeholder coordination needed to support certification and distribution mechanisms across key producing districts.
Based on the survey findings, KOICA Pakistan Office will prepare foundations for the Seed Potato Center and work to ensure a smooth transition to the detailed planning survey and subsequent project implementation, prioritizing local capacity, supply chain resilience and long-term food security outcomes.
