In a historic moment for Pakistan’s agricultural sector, a locally-developed, climate-resilient cotton seed has been introduced — marking the first such breakthrough in over two decades.
Developed after 25 years of extensive research by Lahore-based Four Brothers Group, in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, the seed—named CEMB-33—is being hailed as a potential game-changer for the country’s struggling cotton industry.
During a recent visit to the company’s research facility, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, accompanied by Engineer Javed Saleem Qureshi, lauded the scientific achievement, calling it “nothing short of an agricultural revolution.”
“Pakistan must achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture. We cannot afford to rely on imports for essential crops any longer,” the minister said. “The government will fully support experts from the private sector who bring such innovations.”
What Makes CEMB-33 Exceptional?
The CEMB-33 seed is the first genetically modified cotton variety developed locally after years of dependence on smuggled or poorly regulated foreign Bt seeds. It incorporates advanced BT gene technology for resistance against bollworms and demonstrates high tolerance to extreme heat — withstanding temperatures as high as 50°C. It also offers strong resistance to diseases like the Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV).
“The seed has the potential to increase yield from 15 maunds per acre to 40–45 maunds — even in regions previously considered unviable for cotton,” said Qureshi.
Why This Matters for Sindh
This breakthrough arrives at a time when Pakistan’s cotton belt—especially in Sindh—is under siege from climate change. Cotton is grown in around 15–18 districts of Sindh, with top producers including Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Khairpur, and Shaheed Benazirabad (Nawabshah). However, temperatures in these districts now routinely hit 48–50°C, often during the peak cotton-growing season from May to July.
Districts like Jacobabad, Dadu, and Larkana, while historically involved in cotton production, have seen a decline in acreage due to intense heatwaves and water scarcity. Conventional seed varieties used previously were not designed to tolerate such heat, often resulting in:
• Early boll drop
• Flower shedding
• Decreased yield and poor fibre quality
• Susceptibility to pest attacks
CEMB-33’s heat resilience, therefore, could revive cotton cultivation in these high-risk areas, offering farmers a viable alternative to abandoning the crop altogether.
Early Success in Punjab
Field trials in southern Punjab — including Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, and Vehari — have shown promising results, with farmers reporting:
• Strong boll retention even in 47°C+ conditions
• Yield increases of 10–15% over traditional varieties
• Better pest resistance and fibre uniformity
One farmer in Dera Ghazi Khan shared:
“We thought no cotton could survive in June’s heat. This seed stayed green, withstood the stress, and we saw flowering when plants usually wither.”
Saving Billions in Imports
Ahsan Iqbal also highlighted potential savings in foreign exchange, stating that domestic innovation in crops like cotton and canola can reduce Pakistan’s reliance on costly imports of edible oils and raw materials for the textile industry.
“Increasing local production of canola oil, for example, could save us billions currently spent on imports,” he noted.
The Science and Future Outlook
Approved by the Punjab Seed Council in 2023, the CEMB-33 seed is seen as a milestone for biotechnology in Pakistan. It also marks a new chapter in public-private collaboration, with Four Brothers Group at the helm of what may become a national seed replacement strategy.
As climate change reshapes Pakistan’s agricultural landscape, stakeholders believe that such innovations are not optional, but essential.
“We need a 10 to 20-year national agriculture plan,” Ahsan Iqbal concluded. “Only then can we safeguard our food security and protect our farmers from climate volatility.”
