PROMOTION OF QUALITY SEED THROUGH VARIOUS SCHEMES PRESENTED BY S. SELVARAJ DEPUTY COMMISSIONER (SEEDS)

SEEDS  Critical determinant of agricultural production.  Quality seeds appropriate to different agro-climatic conditions.  Sufficient quantity at affordable prices are required to raise productivity.  Availability and use of quality seeds is not a one-time affairs.  Sustained increase in agriculture production and productivity.  Continuous development of new and improved varieties.  Efficient system of seed production and supply is required.

Steps Taken for Quality Seed Production  Systematic production of breeder, foundation and certified/quality seeds.  Assistance provided for seeds in different schemes being implemented by the Government of India.  Formulation of policies/plans viz: New Policy on Seed Development, 1988; National Seed Policy 2002 and National Seed Plan  Boosting seed production in private sector.

Production of Breeder, Foundation and Certified/Quality Seeds Indian seed programme follows “limited generation system” of seed multiplication in a phased manner. System recognizes three generations of seeds, viz. Breeder, Foundation and certified seeds and provides safeguards for quality assurance in seed multiplication chain to maintain purity of variety as it flows from the breeder to the farmers. Type of SeedsUnit Breeder Seed Production Qtl Foundation Seed Production Qtl Certified/Quality Seed Distribution Qtl

Formulation of Plan/Policy i.New Policy on Seed Development to provide the incentive to encourage domestic seed industry. ii. The National Seed Policy The thrust areas include varietal development, plant variety protection; seed production; quality assurance; seed distribution and marketing; infrastructure facilities; transgenic plant varieties; import and export of seeds, etc; promotion of the domestic seed industry; strengthening of monitoring system, etc..iii. The National Seed Plan Self Pollinated Crops – 25% Cross Pollinated Crops – 33% Hybrid Crops – 100% Requirement of seed lakh qtls. as in and determined a gap of lakh qtls. in terms of availability at that point of time.

Boosting Seed Production in Private Sector The National Seed Policy, A greater role for the private sector in seed production in the country. Private sector contributes 41.09% of the seeds produced in i.e lakh quintals. However, its domain still remains in low volume high value seeds. The Government of India also implements a Scheme to boost seed production in the private sector. Assistance is provided through credit linked back-ended capital subsidy at the rate of 25% of the project cost subject to a maximum limit of Rs.10 lakh per unit on seed infrastructure development. The assistance has been enhanced to a maximum limit of Rs.25 lakh per unit on seed infrastructure development in the Eleventh plan ( onwards).

Impact and Improvement in Position regarding Availability of Certified/ Quality Seeds There is significant Improvement in Availability of Seed as indicated below: YearAvailability in Lakh Quintals % Change

Impact of Programmes/ Policies Seed availability and consequently, the production gap against requirement under NSP has improved substantially as indicated in the table below: There is significant Improvement in Availability of Seed as indicated below: Year Availability % Change in lakh qtls

Seed Replacement Rate has Improved CropSRR in 2001SRR in 2007 Wheat13%25.25% Rice19.22%36.77% Maize20.98%44.24% Gram4.17%18.35% Urd16.55%23.89% Moong13.47%21.75% Arhar8.71%16.05% Groundnut5.2%14.24% Rapeseed & Mustard38.39%76.34% Soybean12.44%33.39% Sunflower13.73%69.17%

Constraints in seed production i). Seed infrastructure facilities relating to seed production, processing and storage requires improvement and substantial upgradation which requires high capital investment. ii). Almost 80% of the seeds used in Indian agriculture is farm saved seeds. Systematic upgradation of the quality of farm saved seeds is required including training in seed production technology. Scheme such as Seed Village programme have been introduced to improve the quality of farm saved seeds. iii). Frequent occurrence of natural calamities like drought, floods, etc. in one or the other parts of the country enhances the seed requirement of the affected area.

iv). Seed distribution is low and costly in the North Eastern States and other hill States which has an impact on overall agricultural production and nutritional security. v).Seed quality control arrangements require upgradation and strengthening. vi). Hybrid seeds capable of giving higher yield are not available for some important crops like Pulses. While hybrid of some other crops such as rice have not become popular on account of high cost of seeds and low purchasing power of the farmers.

Seeds Requirement as per National Seed Plan Qty. in Lakh Qtls Requirement (NSP) Seed Availability Seed Availability Seed Availability Seed Availability Gap in Seed Production Paddy Wheat Maize Other Cereals All Cereals

PULSES Arhar Urd Moong Gram Lentil Peas Other Pulses All Pulses

OILSEEDS Groundnut Soybean Rape Seed & Mustard Sunflower Sesamum Safflower Caster All Oil Seeds

FIBRE Cotton Jute Mesta Sunhemp Total Potato and others All Crops

Schemes of Government of India Providing Assistance for Seeds Scheme/ Component CropScale of Assistance Macro Managemen t Mode of Agriculture- State Work Plan Rice and Wheat Bajra, Jowar, Ragi and Barley (i)Rs.500/- per quintal or 50% of the cost, whichever is less for certified seed distribution for rice and wheat. (ii) Rs.800/- per quintal or 50% of the cost, whichever is less for certified seed distribution of varieties for Bajra, Jowar and Barley (iii) Rs.1000/- per quintal for certified seed distribution of hybrid of Bajra and Jowar. (iv)Rs.1000/- quintal or 50% of the cost, whichever is less for assistance for production hybrid rice seed. (v)Rs.2000/- per quintal or 50% of the cost, whichever is less assistance for production hybrid rice seed distribution.

Integrated Scheme on Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize All Oilseeds, Pulses and Maize Oil Palm Sprouts (i)Full cost for purchase of Breeder seed. (ii) Rs.1000/- quintal for foundation and certified seed production. (iii) Rs.1200/- per quintal or 25% of Seeds cost whichever is less for certified seed distribution. (iv) Full cost of Seed Minikits of high yielding varieties (implementing agency NSC/SFCI). (v) 75% of the cost with a ceiling of Rs.7500/ha.for entire land holding of farmers.

Technology Mission on Cotton Cotton Seed(i)50% of the cost or Rs.50/- per kg. whichever is less for foundation seed production. (ii) 25% of the cost or Rs..15/- per kg. whichever is less for Certified seed production. (iii) Rs.20/- per kg. for certified seed distribution. (iv) 50% of the cost limited to Rs.40/- per kg. seed treatment Technology Mission on Jute and Mesta Jute and Mesta(i) 50% of the cost limited to Rs.3000/- per quintal for foundation seed production. (ii) 25% of the cost limited to Rs.700/- per quintal for Certified seed production (iii) 50% of the cost limited to Rs.2000/- per quintal for certified seed distribution.

National Food Security Mission Rice(i) Rs.1000/- per quintal or 50% of the cost whichever is less for certified hybrid rice seed production. (ii) Rs.2000/- per quintal or 50% of Seeds cost whichever is less for certified hybrid rice seed distribution. (iii) Rs.5/- per kg.. or 50% of the cost, whichever is less for certified high yielding varieties seed distribution. (iv) Full cost of Seed Minikits of high yielding varieties. Wheat(i) Rs.5/- per kg. or 50% of the cost whichever is less for certified high yielding varieties seed distribution (ii) Full cost of Seed Minikits of high yielding varieties. Pulses(i) Rs.1000/- per quintal for foundation and certified seeds production. (ii) Rs.1200/- per quintal or 50% of the cost whichever is less for certified seed distribution. (iii) Full cost of Seed Minikits of high yielding varieties

Seed Village Programme All Agricultural Crops (i) To upgrade the quality of farmer saved seed financial assistance for distribution of foundation/certified seeds at 50% cost of the seed for production of quality seeds. (ii) Assistance to train the farmers on seed production and seed Rs.15000/- for a group of farmers. (iii) to encourage farmers to develop storage capacity of appropriate quality 33% subject to a maximum of Rs. 3000/- for SC/ST farmers 25% subject to maximum of Rs. 2000/- for other farmers for procuring seeds storage bin of 20 qtl. 33% subject to maximum of Rs. 1500/- to SC/ST farmers 25% subject to maximum of Rs. 1000/- for other farmers for making seeds storage bin of 10 qtl. capacity in the seed villages where seed village scheme is being implemented.

Transport subsidy on Movement of Seeds to North Eastern States including Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand & Hill areas of West Bengal All certified seeds excluding potato (i)100% difference between road and rail transportation charge is being reimbursed to implementing States/Agencies for movement of seeds produced from outside the State to the identified State Capital/District Headquarter. (ii) Actual cost restricted to maximum limit of Rs.60/- per quintal whichever is less for movement of seeds transported within the State from State Capital/District Headquarter to sale outlets/sale counters is being reimbursed. Hybrid Rice Seed Production Only Rice Hybrid Rice Seed Production assistance Rs.2000/qtls. Hybrid Rice Seed Distribution assistance Rs2500/qtls.

c. Creation and Strengthening of Infrastructure Facilities All Crops To create/strengthen infrastructure facilities for production and distribution of quality seeds for the States/State Seeds Corporation financial assistance for creating facilities for seed cleaning, grading, processing, packing and seed storage is being provided in public sector Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana All Crops All Activities including Seed Infrastructure Facilities