Lok Sabha Question No. 1622 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: Distribution of High Quality Seeds
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Bhagwanth Khuba

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1622 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  JULY, 2019

## DISTRIBUTION OF HIGH QUALITY SEEDS

1622.   SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is establishing any mechanism for distribution of high quality seeds to farmers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to use PPP mode in the country for developing good quality seeds; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a ) & (b): Yes, Sir

The States are primarily responsible to ensure production, availability and distribution  of  quality  seeds  to  the  farmers  through  its  Department  of  Agriculture,  seed multiplication farms, State Seeds Corporation including National Seeds Corporation, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), Cooperatives  and Private Seed Companies etc.

The  Government  of  India  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  State  Governments  by coordinating  seed  requirement  and  availability  through  the  mechanism  of  Zonal  Seeds Review Meetings prior to each sowing season and developing Seed Rolling Plan of State Government.

The  Government  of  India  is  providing  financial  assistance  for  production  and distribution of seed of High Yielding Varieties (HYVs) of different crops to the States and implementing agencies through various ongoing crop development programmes/ schemes viz.  National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI),  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY),  Sub-Mission  on  Seeds  &  Planting

Material (SMSP) under National Mission on Agricultural Extension & Technology (NMAET) etc.

Contd…..2/-

- 2 -

(c) & (d): The Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode  is already in place for development and commercialization of varieties.  The private seed companies are contributing  their  research  material  (Varieties)  for  testing  under  All  India  Coordinated Research Projects of different  crops  and  these  varieties  are  being  released  and  notified after testing at both public and private sector test locations.

On the other hand, commercialization of seeds through PPP model is a successful initiative  by  the  Government  of  India.    Zonal  Technology  Management  and  Business Planning and Development (ZTM&BPD) Units and Institute Technology Management Units of Indian Council of Agricultural Research  (ICAR)  Institutes and  State Agricultural Universities  have  successfully  commercialized  and  transferred  new  seed  varieties  to farmers' field via PPP mode.

More than 500 Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs) have been signed with private seed companies for licensing the varieties to seed companies for production and marketing the quality seeds for timely availability of good quality seeds at farmer's door step, which in turn helps in increasing the productivity as well as farmers' income.

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