Lok Sabha Question No. 4539 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-08
Subject: Demand for Quality Seeds
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4539

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  8 th  JANUARY, 2019

## DEMAND FOR QUALITY SEEDS

4539.  SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that there is huge demand for quality seeds in the agriculture sector, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is true that there is no proper mechanism for sale of seeds to meet the demand of farmers on timely basis;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has taken note that there is a need to strengthen and incentivize  the  informal  seeds  production  and  distribution  system  in  the  country  to ensure ease of agriculture in the country;
- (e) if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  put  any  mechanism  to  ensure adequate availability of quality seeds round the year to all farmers; and
- (f) if so, the response of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी ( SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a): Yes,  Madam.  The  demand  for  quality  seeds  in  the  Country  for  the  current year  2018-19  is  353.55  lakh  quintals  against  which  the  production/availability  is 398.89 lakh quintals.
- (b) & (c): The  breeder seeds produced  for 2018-19  by Indian Council of Agricultural Research Institutions (ICAR) and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) are 105085 quintals for further production of foundation seeds in 2018-19 and then certified/quality seeds in 2019-20 by State Department of Agriculture, State Seeds Corporations,  State  Seed  Farms,  SAUs  farms,  ICAR  Institutions,  National  Seed Corporation  Ltd.,  Hindustan  Insecticide  Ltd.,  Krishak  Bharati  Cooperative  Limited, Indian Farm  Forestry Development  Cooperative  Limited,  National Agricultural Cooperative  Marketing  Federation  of  India  Ltd,  State  Seed  Cooperatives  etc.  The produced certified/quality seeds are sold/distributed to farmers to meet the demand on timely basis. In addition, private seed companies are also producing foundation seeds and then certified/quality seeds and sell to the farmers.

To  meet  the  requirement  of  seed  during  natural  calamity  situations  like  flood, drought etc. one percent of total seed requirement i.e. 371881 quintals for 2018-19 kept in  the  National  Seed  Reserve  and  is  being  implementing  by  about  22  implementing agencies in the Country.

The  Government  of  India  provides  the  financial  assistance  to  the  States  and seed  producing  agencies  for  production  and  distribution  of  seeds  through  various ongoing crop development programmes/schemes viz. National Food Security Mission, Bringing  Green  Revolution  in  Eastern  India,  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana,  National Mission on Agriculture Extension and Technology (Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials) etc.

(d) to (f): The  Government  is  implementing  Seed  Village  Programme  under  SubMission on Seeds and Planting Materials to upgrade the quality of farmer's saved seeds by providing the financial assistance for distribution of foundation/certified seeds at 50% cost for cereal crops and 60% for pulses, oilseeds, fodder and green manure crops for one acre per farmer. Assistance of Rs.15000 is also provided for training of farmers on seed production and technology to produce quality seeds.

To  encourage  the  farmers  to  produce  good  quality  seeds  at  village  itself, Government is providing financial assistance of Rs. 60 lakh each for setting of 500 MT capacity seed processing cum storage godown in the Country.

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