(a) the number of seed banks functioning in the country, State-wise;
(b) whether the existing seed banks are sufficient to meet the needs of the farmers;
(c) whether the Government is considering to set up a nationwide seed bank to
preserve and promote local indigenous varieties of plants;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Union Government to preserve the local and indigenous
varieties of vegetables, grains and cereals?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI TARIQ ANWAR)
(a) & (b): 18 seed banks are in operation in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam,
Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Kerala through the State
Seed Corporations/Seeds Development Authority (SSCs) and in Tamil Nadu through
State Department of Agriculture. National Seeds Corporation and State Farms
Corporation of India also operate Seed Banks at National Level. The objectives of the
Seed Bank are to meet requirement of Seed arising due to natural calamities and other
unforeseen conditions like drought, floods etc. The certified and foundation seeds of
location specific varieties including local varieties which are suitable for such
situations are generally kept in the Seed Bank. The existing seeds banks are
adequate to meet the needs of the farmers.
(c): No, Madam.
(d): Does not arise.
(e): Seed Banks are established based on the needs expressed by the States and
with a specific mandate to provide alternate seeds in the event of unforeseen
calamities such as drought, flood etc. The seeds that are stored in these banks are of
short and medium duration varieties of crops suited for the area and to meet the
requirement of contingent situations.
However, the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) and
national active germplasm sites which are operating as Gene banks in different states
have objectives to collect, characterize, evaluate, conserve and to make available
germplasm including land races, wild species and traditional varieties of different crops
including indigenous varieties of vegetables, grains and cereals for agricultural
research purposes. Also, these gene banks conserve local varieties.