Shri. Sharad Pawarji, Hon’ble Union Minister for Agriculture,Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri. T. Nanadakumar, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary (DARE) and DG, ICAR; Distinguished Scientists, Officers from Central and State Government Organisations, Stake holders of Seed Industry, Participants of this Congress, invitees, press and media personnel, ladies and gentlemen.
I am pleased to be amidst you today for this important inaugural event of the National Seed Congress on a very current theme. Seed is a basic means of agriculture for food security and sustainability. Among important technological inputs, seed is most important and viable option for filling the yield gaps that are evident in across different parts of the country. Quality seeds appropriate to different agro-climatic conditions and in sufficient quantity at affordable prices are required to raise productivity. The response of all other inputs depends on quality of seeds to a large extent. It is estimated that the direct contribution of quality seed alone to the total production is about 15-20% depending upon the crop and it can be further raised upto 45% with efficient management of other inputs. Availability and use of quality seeds is not a one time affair. Sustained increase in agriculture production and productivity necessarily requires continuous development of new and improved varieties of crops and efficient system of production and supply of seeds to framers. Food security is not achievable without seeds security.
During the past five decades, Indian agriculture has witnessed spectacular advances in production and productivity of food grains, oilseeds, commercial crops, fruits, vegetables, poultry and dairy. Interestingly, the area under food grains has remained stagnant at around 125 million hectares for the last 25 years. The increase in food grains production has, thus been achieved, largely through productivity increase. In fact, we have achieved enhanced crop productivity and production by development and adoption of improved varieties possessing high yield, resistance to important diseases and pests, and other desirable traits. In these accomplishments, the role of the Indian seed industry and our effective seed security system has contributed significantly.
I am happy to note that the National Agricultural Research System has taken several new initiatives to meet the challenges our agriculture is facing. More particularly with our strong net work of research systems to have registered in more than 5400 improved varieties of various crops in our National Catalogue. Of which nearly 3000 varieties are in seed multiplication chain and used by for cultivation under varies agro ecological conditions. This itself indicates the vastness and diversity of our agricultural system.
The National Seeds Policy 2002 lays the foundation for comprehensive reforms in the Seed Sector. It emphasizes that significant changes in the existing legislative frame work should be effected accompanied by programmatic interventions in order to achieve the food production targets of the future. A major effort is required to enhance the Seed Replacement Rates of various crops. This would require a major increase in the production of quality seeds, in which the private sector is expected to play a major role. It calls for encouraging Public Sector Seed Institutions to enhance production of seed towards meeting the objective of food and nutritional security. To meet these objectives, the policy underlines that special attention will be given to upgrade the quality of farmers’ saved seeds through interventions, to increase Seed Replacement Rates progressively; to put in place an effective seed production programme in each State; to meet the demand for seeds during natural calamities through Seed Banks.
Indian seed programme follows “ limited generation system” of seed multiplication in a phased manner. System recognizes three generations of seeds, namely Breeder, Foundation and Certified seeds and provides safeguards for quality assurance in seed multiplication chain to maintain purity of variety as it flows from the breeder to the farmer.
Agriculture is being accorded top priority in the country. The Central Government has taken up scientific and technological interventions for higher agricultural growth. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) has been launched with an outlay of Rs. 25,000 crore for holistic development of agriculture in the XI Plan. National Food Security Mission (NFSM) has been launched with an outlay of about Rs. 5000 crore to enhance production of rice, wheat and pulses to increase the production of rice by 10 million tons, wheat by 8 million tons and pulses by 2 million tons by the end of the Eleventh Plan (2011-12) on a sustainable basis, so as to ensure food security of the country. The approach is to bridge the yield gap in respect of these crops through dissemination of improved technologies and farm management practices. Similarly various seed related schemes targeting improving the farm saved seeds in rural villages, enhancing seed replacement rates, strengthening infrastructure so as to supply quality seeds to farmers are being successfully implemented. The Technology Mission on Oilseeds and Pulses (TMOP) was also launched with a view to increase the production and productivity of oilseeds and pulses to make the country self-reliant in this vital sector. More importantly the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) launched by Government of India with a budget outlay of Rs.8803 crore during the XIth Plan to provide holistic growth of horticulture sector in India and to enhance horticulture production are the various important programme and policies of Government of India.
In addition to such policy and development initiatives, sincere efforts of the researchers, educationists and extension personal are the need of the hour. Our goal of attaining 4% agriculture growth rate during the XI Plan needs concerted efforts by producing and supplying quality seeds, improving water management, focusing on soil quality, diversifying into high value agriculture, promoting animal husbandry and fishery and improving marketing systems and strengthening effective extension system.
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation through various pro active policies and schemes and ICAR has made good initiatives with Mega Seed Project leading to building of infrastructure support at State Departments, Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes. However, it will be further appropriate to intensify quality seed production and planting material production on large scale combined with uniform quality regulation to meet the requirement in which the role of both public and private seed sectors shall need to play an active role.
In order to strengthen and improve the State Seeds Corporations as per the recommendations of Expert Committee, the Government of India is taking all out efforts to enhance the professional efficiency and effectiveness of the Seed Corporations..
The uniformity in Seed Quality Regulations is being achieved through effective legislative frame works in India. In order to assess the status and requirements of various State Seed Quality Centers, the National Seed Research and Training Center, Varanasi has organized national workshops during 2009 and based on the outcome, the Central Government is going to support further upgradation and strengthening of all the centers on need based. For this support necessary provision will be made in the proposed National Seed Mission.
I again express my happiness that officials, scientists and planners engaged in seed related activities have shown keen interests and gathered in large numbers from all over the country to participate in this congress. I wish you all, a satisfactory participation and discussions; and would be eagerly looking forward to an action-oriented road map from the recommendations of this seed congress, which we all can adopt in our march towards a hunger-free world.
I wish the National Seed Congress a grand success.
Thank you.
