Pakistani Alfalfa Seed Supplier - KOHENOOR International, Since 1957
If you are sourcing alfalfa (lucerne) seed for a dairy, livestock, or forage operation anywhere in the world, this guide covers what KOHENOOR International produces in Pakistan, how we ship globally from Karachi Port and Port Qasim, the documentation we provide, the certifications we hold, and how to obtain a current FOB Karachi quote in 24 business hours.
KOHENOOR International is Pakistan longest-running direct alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seed exporter, established 1957. Head Office: Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. Export loading from Karachi Port and Port Qasim. Secondary office in Australia. Member of Australian Seed Federation. ISO 9001 + HACCP + ISTA-certified per lot. Ships to 70+ countries. MOQ: 1 MT trial / 20-25 MT container preferred. WhatsApp +92 310 4929292.
At a glance — key facts
- Legal name
- KOHENOOR International (operates as Noorani Seeds for Pakistan domestic markets)
- Founded
- 1957 - 68 years, third-generation family business
- Head Office
- Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan
- Export loading
- Karachi Port / Port Qasim
- Secondary office
- Australia
- Industry membership
- Australian Seed Federation
- Quality management
- ISO 9001 certified
- Food safety
- HACCP compliant
- Seed certification
- ISTA Orange Certificate per lot
- MOQ
- 1 MT trial / 20-25 MT container preferred
- Markets served
- 70+ countries
- +92 310 4929292
- info@kohenoorint.com
Our alfalfa seed cultivars
| Cultivar | Trait | Best suited for | Typical buyer markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| KN92 | Cold-tolerant | Temperate dairy zones | Russia, Central Asia, northern China, Iran, Turkey central Anatolia, USA northern, Canada |
| TAIZTAR | Heat-tolerant | Hot arid tropical dairy zones | GCC, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Libya, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, South Asia |
| Sardi | Drought-resistant | Arid smallholder systems | Smallholder dairy in arid Asia and Africa |
Mixed-cultivar orders accepted with separate lot certificates per cultivar.
Same crop, many local names
| Market | Local name |
|---|---|
| English USA Canada UK | alfalfa |
| English Australia South Africa NZ | lucerne |
| Arabic Egypt Levant | البرسيم الحجازي - الفصة |
| Arabic Iraq Gulf | الجت - الفصة |
| Chinese Mandarin | 苜蓿 - 紫花苜蓿 |
| Spanish | alfalfa |
| Portuguese Brazil | alfafa |
| French | luzerne |
| German | Luzerne |
| Russian | люцерна |
| Turkish | yonca |
| Persian | یونجه |
| Italian | erba medica |
| Japanese | アルファルファ |
| Korean | 알팔파 |
| Nepali | राजको घाँस |
| Vietnamese | cỏ linh lăng |
Proof — original credentials
Every credential is backed by a verifiable document. Click to view full certificate.
How we test, condition, and ship every lot
The same process for every KOHENOOR lot regardless of destination market or buyer size.
- Origin selection from established multiplication growers in Punjab and Sindh.
- Manual rogueing at flowering — off-type plants physically removed.
- Cleaning and conditioning — gravity tables and indent cylinders.
- Hand sorting for high-spec orders.
- ISTA lab testing per lot — independent ISTA-recognised laboratory issues Orange Certificate.
- Bagging with sealed lot tags traceable end-to-end.
- Phytosanitary inspection by Pakistan Department of Plant Protection.
- Loading and FOB Karachi dispatch — container stuffing at Karachi Port or Port Qasim.
Documents with every shipment
| Document | Issuer |
|---|---|
| ISTA Orange Certificate | Independent ISTA-recognised lab |
| Phytosanitary Certificate | Pakistan Department of Plant Protection |
| Certificate of Origin | Karachi Chamber of Commerce |
| Commercial Invoice | KOHENOOR International |
| Packing List | KOHENOOR International |
| Bill of Lading | Shipping line |
Available on request at buyer cost
- Halal certificate (GCC, Southeast Asia)
- Fumigation certificate
- Third-party microbial testing (Salmonella, E. coli) via accredited lab
- Pesticide residue analysis (QuEChERS)
- Heavy metals analysis (ICP-MS)
- USDA NOP / EU Organic / JAS organic certification
- Letter of Guarantee against GMO
- Letter of Guarantee against chemical seed treatment
Common buyer mistakes we have seen
- Confusing alfalfa seed with alfalfa hay. KOHENOOR exports seed only.
- Wrong cultivar for climate. KN92 in hot zones or TAIZTAR in cold zones gives poor results. Confirm cultivar-climate match at quote stage.
- Skipping ISTA certificate review. Always read the lot certificate; do not focus only on FOB price.
- Assuming all seed is non-GMO without written guarantee. Pakistani alfalfa is non-GMO but some markets need it in writing at customs.
- Skipping fumigation when destination requires it. Confirm with your broker.
- Treating sprouting-use seed same as forage seed. Untreated sprouting seed must be confirmed in writing on contract.
- Not requesting sample first. A small sample with full ISTA certificate prevents costly misunderstandings.
English RFQ template
Send via WhatsApp +92 310 4929292 or email info@kohenoorint.com.
Subject: Alfalfa seed RFQ — [your company]
Tonnage required: ___ MT
Cultivar: KN92 / TAIZTAR / Sardi / mixed
Destination port: ___
Target arrival month: ___
Intended use: forage / pasture / sprouting / other
Additional documents: halal / fumigation / non-GMO
Payment: LC at sight / TT against BL scan
Packing: 25 kg PP / 50 kg jute / 1 MT FIBC / private label
First-time or repeat: ___
WhatsApp: ___
Email: ___
Pricing approach — current market, not list price
KOHENOOR quotes at the prevailing FOB Karachi market rate on the day of enquiry. We do not publish a fixed list because pricing moves daily with crop yield, FX, freight, and seasonal demand.
Why no fixed list: A quote priced last week is rarely accurate this week. We quote live so the price you confirm is the price that ships.
Payment terms
- 100% TT against scan copy of Bill of Lading — flexible, used by most first-time buyers.
- Irrevocable Letter of Credit at sight from a top-tier bank — preferred by institutional buyers.
Repeat buyers (3+ shipments): terms negotiable up to net 30 days against shipping documents.
Storage after arrival
- Temperature: ≤ 15°C optimal; ≤ 20°C acceptable
- Humidity: ≤ 60% RH
- Dark or low-light storage
- Keep bags sealed until use
- Shelf life under proper storage: 18-24 months
Frequently asked questions
Where is KOHENOOR International head office?
KOHENOOR head office is in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. Export shipments load from Karachi Port and Port Qasim. KOHENOOR also operates a secondary office in Australia.
What cultivars does KOHENOOR export?
Three Pakistani-origin cultivars: KN92 (cold-tolerant for temperate zones), TAIZTAR (heat-tolerant for hot arid zones), Sardi (drought-resistant for arid smallholder systems).
What certifications does KOHENOOR hold?
ISO 9001 certified for quality management, HACCP compliant, ISTA Orange Certificate per lot for seed purity and germination, member of Australian Seed Federation.
What is the MOQ?
1 metric ton FOB Karachi minimum for trial. 20-25 MT container loads for the most competitive FOB rate. Annual contracts above 100 MT get tiered volume terms.
What documents come with shipment?
ISTA Orange Certificate, Phytosanitary Certificate from Pakistan DPP, Certificate of Origin from Karachi Chamber, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading. Halal, fumigation, third-party microbial/pesticide/heavy-metals testing on request.
Which countries does KOHENOOR ship to?
70+ countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Yemen, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Mexico, Brazil, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand.
What payment terms?
First-time: 100% TT against scan copy of BL, or Irrevocable LC at sight from top-tier bank. Repeat buyers (3+ shipments): up to net 30 days against shipping documents.
Does KOHENOOR publish a price list?
No. KOHENOOR quotes at prevailing FOB Karachi market rate on day of enquiry. Pricing moves with crop yield, FX, freight, seasonal demand.
How fast can KOHENOOR ship?
Lots already conditioned: 7-12 days. Freshly conditioned: 14-21 days. Custom specs add 7-14 days.
Is alfalfa non-GMO?
Yes. Pakistan does not commercially cultivate GMO alfalfa. Letter of Guarantee against GMO issued on request.