Challenges Of Seed Production In India

The foremost objective of agriculture is yield maximisation for which quality seed development is necessary.

- Vivek Gupta

The efficacy of other agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, and irrigation in enhancing agricultural production is largely determined by the quality of seed. According to agricultural experts, quality of seed accounts for 20-25% of agricultural productivity.

Seed production in India

The central government’s ‘Indian Seeds Programme’ recognises three stages of seed production, namely, breeder, foundation, and certified seeds. Breeder seeds are produced by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and that leads to foundation seeds which are produced by National Seeds Corporation (NSC), State Farm Corporation of India (SFCI), State Seeds Corporation (SSC) and private seed producers and the certified seeds are produced and distributed by state governments.