Question : Demand for Quality Seeds

(a) whether it is a fact that demand for quality seeds has been increasing over the last three years, if so, the details of the demand for quality seeds in the country for the last three years and the current year;

(b) the manner in which the requirement of seeds during natural calamities like flood, drought, etc., would be met and the details of seeds reserved in the National Seed Reserve;

(c) whether it is also a fact that the Union Government provides financial assistance to States and seed-producing agencies for production and distribution of seeds, if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and


(d) the crop development programmes/schemes meant for production and distribution of seeds?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): The demand of quality seeds in the country for the last three years and current year 2019-20 as reported by the States is as under :

S. No. Year Demand
(Quantity in lakh Quintals)
1. 2016-17 353.49
2. 2017-18 371.38
3. 2018-19 353.54
4. 2019-20 387.31

(b): In order to meet the requirement of seeds during the natural calamities like flood, drought etc., the seeds of small duration, medium duration, stress tolerant varieties of different crops kept in National Seed Reserve (NSR) maintain by states is distributed to the farmers. The detail of seed quantity kept in the National Seed Reserve (NSR) in last three years is as follows:

Contd…2/-



-2-


S. No. Year Physical Achievement (Quantity in Quintals)
1. 2016-17 2,77,302
2. 2017-18 3,35,922
3. 2018-19 3,14,184

(c) & (d): The Government of India provides the financial assistance to the States and Implementing Agencies for production and distribution of seeds under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials (SMSP).
The details of State-wise funds released/provided for seed production, distribution and other activities under Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials (SMSP) is at Annexure-I.