SEED PRODUCTION IN INDIA: TRIUMPHS AND CHALLENGES IN FIELD CROPS

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Strong, Vibrant and Showing rapid growth. Industry turnover of Rupees 7000 crores and growing at a rate of 12-15% annually. Globally 5th in terms of size and projected to be 3rd by 2015. From a predominantly public sector dominated industry till 1970s, today the private sector is an equal partner.2

Indian Seed Industry

Public Seed Sector National Seeds Corporation.

State Farms Corporation of India. 13 State Seed Corporations. 19 State Seed Certification Agencies. ICAR and SAUs are the public Research organizations involved in product development and also responsible for nucleus and breeder seed production. Breeder seed indents are placed by State Governments to the department of Agriculture and co-operation, Government of India.3

Private Seed Sector Indigenous Seed Companies Large - 10 Medium - 50 Small - 350 Large Multinational Seed Companies 5 Seed production market. primarily for domestic

4 Seed export less than Rupees 50 crore

Private Sector in Seed ProductionYear 03 04 04 05 05 06 06 07 Total Seed production (Lakh qtls) 132.27 140.51 148.18 194.31 % of Private sector contribution 47.48 45.02 46.80 41.00

Source: Seeds division of DAC

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Seed Production Practices and Seed Standards NSC is the pioneer in field crop seed production. Seed production of 1st hybrids of Maize, Sorghum and Bajra done by NSC. NSC was assisted by Rockefeller foundation and USAID in seed production in the formative years. Most of the production practices6 and

Field Crop Seed Production Scale and Magnitude Indian field crop agriculture is diverse and varied. Cultivated area in India is close to 150 m.ha. Grain Cereals 85 m.ha Oil Seeds 25 m.ha Pulses 20 m.ha Cotton 10 m.ha Other Crops 10 m.ha 50 m.ha of the cultivable area is cropped twice. National SRR today is about 22%. Projected SRR by 2013 is 35 %.7

Open pollinated varieties

Field Crop Seed Production Types

Both the main cereals (Rice and Wheat), all pulses, majority of oil seeds are predominantly O.P.Vs. O.P.V. production done across the country. Primarily a domain of the public sector.

Hybrids: Bajra, Jowar, Maize, Cotton, Sunflower, Castor,Fodder Jowar (S.S.G), (Paddy, Mustard). Predominantly private sector. Hybrid seed production is done mostly in the 8 Southern and Western states of India.

Cotton Manual emasculation andpollination. Strict implementation of child labour laws. Sharp increase in labour wages. Government imposed cap on seed prices . Trait fee for Bt. Cotton

Hybrid Seed Production

Maize Manual detassling. Others Major Crops CMS based witheither natural or hand pollination.9

Prominent Indian States with Significant Hybrid Seed ProductionCrop Traditional Areas of Production Potential / Emerging Production areas Hybrid Maize Hybrid Bajra Hybrid Jowar Hybrid Paddy Hybrid Cotton Hybrid Sunflower Hybrid Castor Fodder Jowar (S.S..G) Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat Gujarat, Maharashtra Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka10

Chattisgarh, Orissa

Hybrid Seed Production In Andhra Pradesh During 200809S. No 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Crop Cotton Maize Jowar Bajra Paddy Sunflower Sub. Total Fodder Jowar Total Quantity (qtls) 33,750 9,00,000 80,000 1,50,000 2,50,000 50,000 14,63,750 4,00,000 18,63,75011

Source: Seedsmen Association of India.

Hybrid Seed Production in IndiaCrop Total Cropped area (Mi. acres) % Hybrid Coverage Hybrid seed production area (acres) in Rabi2009 95,000 40,000 15,000 20,000 1,30,000 45,000 20,000 55,000 Cotton Bajra Sorghum Sunflower Maize Rice Castor S.S.G 21 16 16 3.0 16 110 1.2 80% 90% Kharif 80% Rabi < 5% 95% 60% 2% 70%

Total

183.2

4,20,00012

Growth of Hybrid Seeds Production in some major field crops in IndiaCrop Cotton (in lakh packets of 450 g) Maize (Tonnes) Hybrid Rice (Tonnes) Hybrid Bajra (Tonnes) Hybrid Sunflower (Tonnes) Source: Seeds division of DAC 2005 120 55,000 9,000 11,000 7,000 2008 240 70,000 25,000 12,000 5,500

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Requirement and availability of certified/quality seed (Lakh Qtls)Crop 2004-05 R Wheat Paddy Maize Jowar Bajra Sunflo wer 39.94 27.57 3.12 3.62 1.86 0.7 A 47.83 31.56 8.15 3.12 2.84 1.03 2005-06 R 34.41 29.27 3.28 2.47 1.94 0.57 A 2006-07 R A 45.68 40.35 8.08 2.48 2.43 1.02 2007-08 R 62.86 46.55 5.91 1.9 2.16 1.07 A 67 53.54 5.53 2.78 2.44 1.11 2008-09 R 63.1 8 56.0 6 6.84 2.20 2.43 0.83 A 87.68 66.54 7.4 2.74 2.61 0.59

40.01 43.25 36.7 8.86 4.11 3.49 1.33 34.45 4.83 2.10 1.51 0.89

Source: Seeds division of DAC

Advantages Unique to India for Seed Production Bestowed with ideal weather conditions required for seed production. Broad range of climatic situations that facilitate seed production of wide range of crops. Better capital management for seed industry in view of the seed production season being Rabi and the marketing season being Kharif. Availability of inexpensive and skilled labour.15

Seed Production is in Transition PPV and FR act has made seed a Proprietary item. Sharp growth in SRR across the country. Introduction of transgenic and GM crops. Globalization of seed production and supply. Increasing Privatization of seed Industry Professional and corporate management of public seed sector.16

Challenges and Limitations For Seed Production Rapid urbanization and industrialization is posing a threat to availability of skilled labour. Large scale seed production is possible only in Rabi season. Kharif seed production is often prone to problems of seed quality. A highly competitive industry has led to drastic changes in time tested production practices leading to detrimental impact on seed quality.17

Detrimental Changes in Production Practices Seed procurement without seed quality assessment. Seed procurement on raw seed basis. Assured grower payments based on acrerage. Increasing political involvement in seed production.18

Expansion and diversification production areas in Rabi.

Issues for Seed Production R &Dof

seed

Scouting and identification of safe seed production areas in Kharif. Technologies for managing (delaying or advancing) flowering in hybrid seed production plots. More R & D on male sterility systems and improvements in natural cross pollination potency in parental lines of hybrids.19

Areas Of Concern In Seed Production Of Field Crops Lack of unified approach on broad issues of seed production in the industry. Disregard for production agreements and rampant adhocism. Lack of an industry watchdog for redressal of problems. Need for a more proactive role of seed associations in issues related toseed20

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