Question : Supply of Seeds

(a) the details of the total demand of seeds in the country alongwith the amount of seeds supplied by the Government agencies, State-wise during each of the last three years;

(b) whether it is a fact that the production and supply of seeds by the Government agencies/companies to the farmers are not satisfactory as the farmers have to purchase the same from the market and the quality of these seeds are below standard and their per hectare yield is also very low, if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of such companies which are supplying substandard/fake/spurious seeds during the last three years and the current year, State-wise alongwith the action taken by the Government against such companies;

(d) the steps taken by the Government to ensure production and supply of assured good quality seeds to the farmers at controlled rates as seed is a critical and basic input for attaining higher crop yields and sustained growth in agricultural production; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that seed industry not only produces adequate quantum of quality seeds but also achieves varietal diversity to suit various agro-climatic zones of the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): State wise details of the demand and supply of certified/quality seeds by the Government agencies during last 3 years are at Annexure-I.
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(b): Generally, seeds supplied by Government agencies are certified seeds which are duly certified by the State Seed Certification Agencies (SSCAs) on meeting the minimum field standards and minimum seed certification standards.

(c): A few cases of supply of spurious seeds were reported by the States like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana & Madhya Pradesh. However, there is no report regarding the impact on agricultural production due to such sporadic cases. The overall agricultural production in the country has remained robust during the last three years despite of adverse climatic conditions. Details of complaints of supply of spurious seeds received from the State Governments for the last three years and action taken is at Annexure-II.

(d): The Government provides assistance/subsidy for seed production and distribution of high yielding seeds to farmers at reasonable rate through various crop development programmes/schemes viz. National Food security Mission (NFSM), Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI), National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and National Mission on Agricultural Extension & Technology (NMAET) – Sub Mission on Seeds & Planting Material (SMSP).

(e): India follow 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 Institute and State Agricultural Universities in 2014-15. Based on the 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.