Lok Sabha Question No. 2661 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Purchase of Seeds at Higher Prices
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PANKAJ CHOWDHARY, LALLU SINGH

O.I.H

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2661

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH   MAY, 2016

## PURCHASE OF SEEDS AT HIGHER PRICES

2661.       SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY: SHRI LALLU SINGH:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the farmers  are compelled to purchase seeds/hybrid  seeds at higher prices due to the monopoly of certain multinational companies over seed business in the country;
- (b) if  so,  whether the Government is likely to formulate any policy to provide seeds to the farmers at reasonable prices, if  so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  likely  to  formulate  any  policy  to  strengthen  the  domestic agricultural research mechanism in view of the rising monopoly of multinational companies in seed production and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the companies which are engaged in the development and supply of seeds in the country along with their output?

## 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): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and National Seed Association of India (NSAI)  have  reported  that,  there  is  no  monopoly  of  certain  multinational  companies  in  seed business which compels farmers to purchase seeds/hybrid seeds at higher prices as there are a large  number  of  seed  companies  in  India  producing  and  distributing  quality  seeds  including hybrids to the farmers in the country. Bt. Cotton is the only exception where 90% market share is  held  by  BG  II  technology  of  one  company  and  there  is  a  near  monopoly.  However,  this technology has also been licensed to about 50 domestic seed companies.
- (b): In  order  to  regulate  the  maximum  sale  price  of  Bt.  Cotton  seeds,  the  Department  of Agriculture,  Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  has  issued  the  Cotton  Seeds  Price  (Control) Order, 2015 under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to ensure the availability of Bt. Cotton seeds to the farmers at reasonable prices and a maximum price of Rs. 800 per 450 gm packet of BG II Cotton seeds has been notified by Government of India for financial year 2016-17.

(c): The  National  Agricultural  Research  System  (NARS)  comprising  Indian  Council  of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) has been continuously augmenting quality seed production and seed availability to Indian farmers. To strengthen R & D facilities,  ICAR  has  upgraded  Directorate  of  Seed  Research,  Mau  to  Indian  Institute  of  Seed Science  (IISS) to  undertake  basic,  applied,  strategic  and  anticipatory  research  and  also  to coordinate  major  national  network  projects  on  quality  seed  production  and  seed  technology research. During the XII Plan, a regional station at Bangaluru has also been established under IISS. The IISS has been coordinating All India Coordinated Research Project - National Seed Project (Crops) having 41 centres under Breeder Seed Production and 24 centres under Seed Technological Research. This ICAR Seed Project has also been reoriented and strengthened during the XII Plan.

(d): The  National  Seeds  Corporation  (NSC),  17  State  Seed  Corporations  (SSCs),  State Agricultural Departments, several Cooperatives, 175 domestic private seed companies etc., are engaged in the development and supply of certified/quality seeds to the farmers.

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