Access to Quality Seeds

Quality seeds is another input necessary for agricultural productivity, and good quality seeds account for 20%-25% of increased crop productivity. Seeds are regulated by the Seeds Act, 1966. The Act regulates the quality, production, and sale of seeds. The Seeds Control Order, 1983 regulates the licenses to sell, export and import seeds.

• Three varieties of seeds commonly used are (i) farm-saved seeds, which account for 65%-70% of the total seeds consumption, (ii) commercially produced seeds of the breeder, foundation and certified varieties, and (iii) genetically modified and hybrid seeds.
• Agricultural seeds are produced by various agencies such as Indian Council of Agricultural Research and its research institutions, state agricultural universities, and national and state seeds corporations.
• The private sector has also started playing a role in supplying some seeds such as hybrid maize, bajra, cotton and sunflower. Some of the challenges identified in the development and distribution of quality seeds are (i) access to quality seeds, and (ii) inadequate research support.
• About 30%-35% of the total seeds available are produced by private and public sector companies, and farm bred seeds account for the remaining seeds.

While farmers can develop certain varieties of seeds from the crops harvested on their land, high-yielding varieties of seeds have to be purchased from the market. The cost of these varieties is too high for marginal and small farmers to afford, thus disincentivising them from purchasing these varieties.