Lok Sabha Question No. 317 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Production of Quality Seeds
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAGHAV LAKHANPAL

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 317

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 TH  APRIL, 2016

## PRODUCTION OF QUALITY SEEDS

## 317.    SHRI RAGHAV LAKHANPAL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  fact  that  seed  is  a  basic  input  for attaining higher crop yields and sustained growth in agricultural production, if so, the steps taken by the Government during the last one year to improve production and distribution of assured quality seeds to small and marginal farmers at controlled rates; and
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that seed industry is not only producing adequate quantity of quality seeds but also achieving varietal diversity to suit various agroclimatic zones of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्राऱय में राज्य मंत्री (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a) & (b): Yes,  Madam. Government has made adequate arrangements to improve production  and  distribution  of  certified/quality  seeds  to  farmers  including  small  and marginal farmers at reasonable rates through various crop development programmes /schemes.  The details are at Annexure. During the year 2015-16 a total quantity  of  343.52  lakh  quintals  of  certified/quality  seeds  were  produced  and  made available against the requirement of 337.09 lakh quintals.

India follows a well established seed generation system of production of seeds from  Breeder  Seeds  to  foundation  and  then  certified  seeds.  To  produce  adequate quantity of certified/quality seeds of suitable varieties for various agro climatic zones of the country, 86213.25 quintals of Breeder Seed was produced by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Institutes and State Agricultural Universities in 2014-15. Based on indents received both from the public sector (including State Governments) and private industry,  68517.74  quintals  was  allocated  to  all  the  seed  producers  in  2015-16  for production of adequate quantity of certified/quality seeds.

## Annexure

## Details of Assistance/Subsidy for seed production and distribution provided under various existing Schemes/Programmes implemented by States

seedlings

| Sl. No.   | Scheme/Compon ent                                  | Crop                                                               | Scale of Assistance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | National Food Security Mission(NFSM)               | Rice                                                               | a) Rs.5000/- per quintal or 50% of seeds cost whichever is less for certified hybrid rice seed distribution. b) Rs.10/- per kg. or 50% of the cost, whichever is less for certified high yielding varieties certified seed distribution for less than 10 years old varieties.                                                                                           |
| 1.        | National Food Security Mission(NFSM)               | Wheat                                                              | Rs.10/- per kg. or 50% of the cost whichever is less for certified high yielding varieties seed distribution for less than 10 years old varieties.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| 1.        | National Food Security Mission(NFSM)               | Pulses                                                             | Rs.2500/- per quintal or 50% of cost whichever is less for certified seeds distribution for less than 10 years old varieties.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| 1.        | National Food Security Mission(NFSM)               | Coarse cereals- HYVs seed                                          | HYVs Rs.1500/- per quintal or 50% of cost whichever is less for HYVs certified seeds distribution for less than 10 years old varieties.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 1.        | National Food Security Mission(NFSM)               | Hybrid seed                                                        | Rs. 5000/- per quintal or 50% of cost of seeds whichever is less for Hybrid coarse cereal certified seeds distribution for less than 10 years old varieties.                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 1.        | National Food Security Mission(NFSM)               | Commercial Crops-Jute based cropping system Seed Village Programme | a) Seed production b) Production of breeder seed @Rs.20000/qtl. c) Production of certified Seeds 50% of the cost limited to Rs.120/- per kg for foundation seed production. d) Rs.50/- per kg for certified seed production. e) Rs.5500/qtl. for certified seed produced by State Department of Agriculture, State Agricultural Universities, KVKs, SSCs, NSC and SSCA. |
| 1.        | National Food Security Mission(NFSM)               | of seed in Govt. Farms Commercial Crop - Sugarcane                 | Assistance for breeder seed production @Rs.40000/ha.(Rs.34000 for inputs and Rs.6000 for contingency) to SAUs, ICAR and Sugarcane Research 'Institute (SRI) Production of tissue culture raised plantlets/ seedlings @Rs.3.5 per seedling.                                                                                                                              |
| 2         | Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI) | Rice and Wheat                                                     | Distribution of seeds a) Rs.5000/- per quintal or 50% of seeds cost whichever is less for certified hybrid rice seed distribution. b) Rs.10/- per kg. or 50% of the cost, whichever is less for certified high yielding varieties certified seed distribution for less than 10 years old varieties.                                                                     |
|           |                                                    | Rice and Wheat                                                     | Production of seeds The assistance for production of seeds @ Rs. 1,000 per qtl. for HYVs of paddy and wheat and Rs. 5,000 per qtl.for paddy hybrid for less than 10 years old varieties from the year 2015-16. Out of this, 75% amount of subsidy is meant for farmers and 25 % to seed producing agencies for meeting expenditure including certification cost.        |

Continue…..2/-

|   3. | National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)                                                                 | All oilseeds, Hybrid seeds Oil Palm Sprouts Cultivation cost as assistance for gestation period for oil palm.   | a) Full cost for purchase of Breeder Seed of oilseeds from ICAR/SAUs etc. b) 50% of the cost with a ceiling of Rs. 25 per Kg. of certified seeds except sesame which are not older than 10 years for distribution and Rs. 5000/- per quintal for hybrids and variety of sesame not older than 15 years. c) Full cost of Seed Minikits of high yielding varieties/hybrids which are less than 10 years. (Implementing agency NSC /NAFED/KRIBHCO etc). d) 85% of cost of planting material with a ceiling of Rs. 8000/ha. for entire land holding of farmers for oil palm. e) 50% cost during gestation period for 4 years with ceiling of Rs. 16000/ per ha. for oil palm.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    3 | National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)                                                                 | Assistance for production of Foundation Seeds                                                                   | Rs. 1000 per quintal for all verities / hybrids released during last 10 years and additional assistance of Rs. 100/quintal on the varieties /Hybrids released in last 5 years. 75% of subsidy amount is meant for farmers and 25% for seed producing agencies for meeting expenditure towards certification and production etc. (SDAs/NSC/ NAFED/ KRIBHCO/ IFFCO/HIL/IFFDC/Central Multi State Cooperatives such as NCCF)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|    3 | National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)                                                                 | Assistance for production of Certified Seeds a.                                                                 | Rs. 1000 per quintal for all varieties / hybrids released during last 10 years and additional assistance of Rs. 100/- quintal on the varieties. Hybrids released in last 5 years, 75% of subsidy amount is meant for farmers and 25% for seed producing agencies for meeting expenditure towards certification and production etc. (SDAs/NSC/NAFED /KRIBHCO /IFFCO/HIL/IFFDC/Central Multi State Cooperatives such as NCCF)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|    4 | Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)                                                                               | All Crops                                                                                                       | All activities including Seed Infrastructure                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|    5 | National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET)-Sub- Mission on Seeds & Planting Material (SMSP) | Seed Village Programme - All Agricultural Crops (60% GOI and 40% State Share)                                   | a. Distribution of Seeds To upgrade the quality of farmer saved seed financial assistance for distribution of foundation / certified seeds @ 50% cost of the seeds for Cereals crops and 60% for oilseeds, pulses, green manure and fodder crops is provided for 1 acre of area per farmer for production of quality seeds. b. Farmers Training- Assistance to train the farmers on seed production and seed technology @Rs.15000/- for a group of 50-150 farmers. c. Seed treating/dressing drums - Financial assistance for treating seeds @ Rs.3500 per seed treating drum of 20Kg capacity and Rs. 5000 per drum of 40Kg capacity. d. Storage bins To encourage farmers to develop storage capacity of appropriate quality, financial assistance is provided to farmers for purchasing Seed Storage bins. The rate of assistance is as under. @33% for SC/ST farmers for 10 qtls. capacity Rs.1500 @33% for SC/ST farmers for 20 qtls. capacity Rs.3000 @25% for General farmers for 10 qtls. capacity Rs.1000 @25% for General farmers for 20 qtls. capacity Rs.2000 |

|    |                                                                                                     | Certified Seed Production of oilseeds, pulses, green manure and fodder crops through Seed Village (60% GOI and 40% State Share)   | A Distribution of Seeds- financial assistance for distribution of foundation seeds @ 75% cost of the seeds of oilseeds, pulses, green manure and fodder crops is provided to the farmers. Farmers Training - Assistance to train the farmers on seed production and seed technology @Rs.15000/- for a group of 50-150 farmers. Certification Charges- 50% Seed Certification charges maximum of Rs.600/ha or actual whichever is less for certification of seeds produced under the programme. Seed processing and seed storage godowns-Assistance is provided to establish seed processing and prefabricated or other type of seed storage godowns 150 sqm. @Rs.10000 per sqm. to process and store 200 MT capacity for each seed village. Financial assistance of Rs.7.56 lakh is available for seed processing machinery and supporting equipments etc.                                                                                                                                             |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  6 | Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) Seed production for vegetables and Spices | Open pollinated crops Hybrid seeds Seed infrastructure                                                                            | @Rs. 35,000/ha - For public sector 100%, for private sector 35% in general areas and 50% in NE & Himalayan States, Tribal Sub Plans (TSP) areas, Andaman & Nicobar & Lakshadweep Islands, limited to 5 ha. Output target of seed for each crop will be fixed by the individual state. @Rs. 1.50 lakh/ha- For public sector 100%. For private sector 35% in general areas and 50% in NE & Himalayan States, TSP areas, Andaman & Nicobar & Lakshadweep Islands, limited to 5 ha. Output target of seed for each crop will be fixed by the individual state for each beneficiary, before releasing funds. vii) Import of planting material Rs. 100.00 lakh -100% of cost for State Govt. / PSUs, as project based activity. Seed infrastructure (for handling, processing, packing, storage etc. of seeds meant for use as seed material for cultivation of horticulture crops) @Rs. 200.00 lakh- 100% of cost to public sector For private sector, credit linked back subsidy @ 50% of cost of project. |

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