Lok Sabha Question No. 3818 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Price of Seeds
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Anand Kumar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3818

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## PRICE OF SEEDS

3818. DR. ANAND KUMAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष और ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  high  cost  of  farming  due  to  excessive increase  inthe  price  of  seeds  by  seed  manufacturing  companies  in  the  market  due  to increased demand of hybrid seeds by farmers during sowing of crops;

(b)   whether the Government has any scheme/plan to promote high yielding conventional indigenous/local seeds like paddy, wheat, millet etc. if so, the details thereof; and

- (c) whether the Government is considering to set up seed banks at district/division level forsuch  indigenous  seeds  so  that  farmers'  dependence  on  hybrid  seeds  and  the  price  of hybridseeds in the market can be reduced, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. In order to provide farmers access to quality seeds at affordable prices, several initiatives have been undertaken by the government including strengthening R&D & production  of  seed  through  public  sector;  strengthening  seed  related  infrastructure  and creating legal framework and regulatory mechanism. To  ensure  new  and  improved  variety  of  seeds  become  available  to  farmers,  the government through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), All India Coordinated Research  Projects  (AICRPs),  State  Agricultural  Universities  (SAUs),  Central  Agricultural Universities  (CAUs)  and  other  institutions,  has  released  and  notified  3,053  improved varieties  of  seeds,  including  hybrids,  during  the  last  ten  years.  Further,  to  ensure  these seeds are produced and become available to farmer on time at affordable price, produce

O.I.H.

and supply seeds to farmers through national and state level seed corporations, cooperatives  and  agencies.  Even  these  agencies  have  been  strengthened  and  new agencies like National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and Hindustan Insecticides Ltd. (HIL) have also been involved in the seed production.

Besides, to ensure that the new varieties are adopted by farmers financial assistance is  provided  for  making  these  seeds  available  to  farmers,  including  hybrids,  at  subsidised rates  or  free  of  cost  under  schemes  such  as  the National  Food  Security  and  Nutrition Mission  (NFSNM) , National  Mission  on  Edible  Oils-Oilseeds  (NMEO-Oilseeds) and RashtriyaKrishiVikasYojana (RKVY) etc. Additionally, interventions like establishment of Seed Hubs, fostering of new varieties, creation of seed infrastructure, maintenance of the National Seed Reserve, demonstrations, farmer training and Strategic Adaptive Research Support are also extended under various schemes to promote high-yielding conventional as well as indigenous and local seeds to farmers, thereby reducing cost of cultivation.

Through the Seeds Act, 1966, the Seed Rules, 1968 and the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983,  government  has  also  created  effective  legal  ecosystem  to  ensure  quality  of  seeds become available to farmers by curbing unethical practices. Further under the Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order, 2015, the maximum sale price of cotton seeds is also regulated by the Government of India.

(c): At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  to  set  up  seed  banks  at  district/division  level exclusively for indigenous seeds. However, under the NFSNM component 'Boosting Seed Production of Traditional Varieties' , assistance is provided for seed  distribution, incentives  for  seed  production,  capacity  building  of  farmers  and  establishment  of  seed banks.  States  are  also  promoting  indigenous  and  traditional  varieties  through  their  own schemes and missions. Out of 3,053 varieties/hybrids released in the last ten years, 2,347 are  varieties  that  can  be  reused  by  farmers  in  subsequent  seasons,  thereby  reducing dependence on hybrid seeds.

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