Question : Availability of High Yielding Seeds

(a) whether the Government has reviewed the availability and accessibility of high yielding variety of seeds and quality pesticides to the farmers;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether there is a shortage of quality seeds and pesticides in the market, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has reviewed the adequacy of the research support for the development of the seeds and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the necessary steps taken by the Government to make the quality seeds and pesticides available to the farmers at reasonable prices?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a): Yes, Madam.

(b) & (c): The availability of certified/quality seeds for Kharif 2017 is 176.26 lakh quintals against the requirement of 154.69 lakh quintals in the country and there is no shortage of quality pesticides in the country as reported by the States.

(d): Yes, Madam. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the State Agricultural Universities are conducting research and high yielding varieties are being developed for the benefit of farmers. During the year 2016, a total of 308 varieties have been developed and released. The details are, in Cereals 153 varieties, Pulses 43 varieties, Oilseeds 50 varieties, in Fibre crops 33 varieties, in Forage 20 varieties and in Sugar crops 9 varieties.

(e): The Government provides assistance under various crop development Programmes/Schemes for seed related activities to make quality seeds available to the farmers at reasonable prices. The quality of pesticides is monitored by the Insecticide Inspectors of Central (182) and State Governments (13403) respectively through inspection of manufacturing, storage, sale points etc, draw samples of pesticides, analyze with the help of notified pesticide analysts, prosecution is initiated in case of violation of the provisions of Insecticide Act, 1968.

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