Lok Sabha Question No. 1034 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: Availability of Good Quality seeds
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1034

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## AVAILABILITY OF GOOD QUALITY SEEDS

1034. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the fact that good quality seeds are out of reach of the majority of farmers especially small and marginal farmers mainly because of exorbitant prices of these seeds;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with necessary steps taken in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  High  Yielding  Variety  Programme  (HYVP)  launched  in  1966-67  as  a major thrust plan to increase the production of food grains in the country has been able to achieve its goal during the recent times; and
- (d) if so, the details of growth target achieved and along with necessary steps taken to produce adequate quantity of quality seeds and to achieve varietal diversity to suit various agro-climatic zones of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b): There  is  sufficient  quantity  of  certified/quality  seed  available  for  all  farmers across the country. The details of requirement and availability of seed in the Country in last three years is given below: -

## (Quantity in Lakh Quintals)

| Year    |   Requirement |   Availability |   Surplus |
|---------|---------------|----------------|-----------|
| 2019-20 |        387.31 |         431.01 |     43.7  |
| 2020-21 |        443.16 |         483.66 |     40.5  |
| 2021-22 |        465.36 |         498.83 |     33.47 |

In order to make quality seeds affordable to farmers, Government ensures fixation of uniform  breeder  seed  price  in  consultation  with  ICAR  for  minimization  of  the  seed production  cost  in  case  of  foundation  and  certified  seed.  Furthermore,  Government provides financial assistance to different States and Government Seed Producing Agencies for production and distribution of seeds and for other interventions related to seed sector viz.  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM),  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of Horticulture  (MIDH),  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY),  Sub-Mission  on  Seeds  and Planting Materials (SMSP) etc. so as to make quality seed affordable and available to the farmers in timely manner.

- (c) & (d): Because  of  the  program  a  significant  production  enhancement  has  been achieved across the crops, as a result there is 6.07 times production enhancement in food grains, 3.06 times in pulses, 6.98 times in oilseeds, 11.93 times in cotton and 7 times in case of sugarcane over 1950-51 till 2020-21. The collective efforts of ICAR and DA&FW have played a significant role in bringing newly released varieties into seed chain in recent year. During 2020-21, out of total 115517 quintals breeder seed produced, 44705 quintals (~38.7%) and 66422 quintals (~57.5%) accounts for varieties lesser than five years and ten years old respectively, some of which are bio-fortified and multiple stress tolerant varieties. All these efforts bolster varietal diversification and productivity augmentation. Furthermore, following steps are being taken up by DA&FW to ensure availability of quality seed to the farmers:-
- 1). State  Governments  has  been  preparing  Seed  Rolling  Plan  for  three  years  in advance to estimate the requirement of seed in their State and distribute seed production targets  accordingly  to  different  Seed  Production  Agencies.  This  system  ensures  timely availability of required quantity of seed to the farmers in different States.
- 2). State Governments are placing their Breeder Seed indent in different crops one year in advance for systematic breeder seed production. After production the Breeder Seed is allotted to State Governments and Seed Producing Agencies for further multiplication into foundation and certified seed and its distribution to the farmers.
- 3). For  any  unforeseen  climatic  condition,  a  National  Seed  Reserve  is  established  in different  States  for  creating  Seed  Reserve  every  year  which  is  having  short,  medium duration and stress tolerant varieties seeds.

*****