TOBA TEK SINGH: The only seed germination machine in the Ministry of National Food Security and Research`s seed certification and registration department has been lying out of order for the last two years.

The machine is meant to check viability and quality of seed for good production.

An official of the department said 15 seed manufacturing companies were registered with the local office which sold their seed in the market after approval from the depart-ment. Since the machine had been dysfunctional for the last two years, the staff was issuing certificates to the seed without germination, allowing the seed companies to sell their brand in the market every year.

Seed Certification And Registration Department deputy director Muhammad Shafiq said as the machine was imported, its technicians were not available in small towns like Toba while purchasing a new machine was impossible without the approval of higher authorities. He said the authorities had been requested to get the machine repaired.