The Indian seed sector is globally known for its dynamism, integrating both public and private sectors to ensure quality seed availability to the farmers. Valued at over USD 6 billion, it is the fifth largest seed market worldwide. The sector’s growth began in the 60 s with the development of hybrids and accelerated in the early 90 s when Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) started providing seeds of the parental lines of public-bred hybrids to the seed-producing organisations both in the public and private sectors. The 1988 New Policy on Seed Development further boosted private sector investment. The transformation from a predominantly public sector to a balanced public-private seed industry, while maintaining quality and farmers’ rights, is a distinctive feature of the Indian seed sector. The public sector primarily focuses on food security through the supply of seeds of food crops and open-pollinated varieties, while the private sector lays greater emphasis on the commercial and vegetable crops, with hybrids dominating their sales. Supported by robust crop improvement efforts from both sectors, the Indian Seed Improvement Programme includes national-level seed technology research under ICAR and facilities at State Agricultural Universities (SAUs). To enhance seed exports from India, proper alignment with the international seed laws is desired. A reoriented strategy, focusing more on the export of vegetables and flower seeds, which are profitable and manageable due to their low volumes, is needed. With a proper policy framework and strategic investments, the Indian seed industry has the potential to become the ‘seed valley’ especially for the Asian and African countries. This chapter covers the evolution, current state and future prospects of the Indian seed sector to position it as a leading global model.

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Development of Seed Sector in India

  • Gyan P. Mishra,
  • Malavika Dadlani,
  • D. Vijay,
  • K. V. Sripathy,
  • Sanjay Kumar,
  • Harsh K. Dikshit

摘要

The Indian seed sector is globally known for its dynamism, integrating both public and private sectors to ensure quality seed availability to the farmers. Valued at over USD 6 billion, it is the fifth largest seed market worldwide. The sector’s growth began in the 60 s with the development of hybrids and accelerated in the early 90 s when Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) started providing seeds of the parental lines of public-bred hybrids to the seed-producing organisations both in the public and private sectors. The 1988 New Policy on Seed Development further boosted private sector investment. The transformation from a predominantly public sector to a balanced public-private seed industry, while maintaining quality and farmers’ rights, is a distinctive feature of the Indian seed sector. The public sector primarily focuses on food security through the supply of seeds of food crops and open-pollinated varieties, while the private sector lays greater emphasis on the commercial and vegetable crops, with hybrids dominating their sales. Supported by robust crop improvement efforts from both sectors, the Indian Seed Improvement Programme includes national-level seed technology research under ICAR and facilities at State Agricultural Universities (SAUs). To enhance seed exports from India, proper alignment with the international seed laws is desired. A reoriented strategy, focusing more on the export of vegetables and flower seeds, which are profitable and manageable due to their low volumes, is needed. With a proper policy framework and strategic investments, the Indian seed industry has the potential to become the ‘seed valley’ especially for the Asian and African countries. This chapter covers the evolution, current state and future prospects of the Indian seed sector to position it as a leading global model.