Initiatives to Strengthen Seed Sector

Key Highlights:

• The government is strengthening India's seed sector through research, regulation, and international collaboration.
• National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES) has developed 3,236 field crop varieties, including 2,996 climate-resilient ones, from 2014-2025.
• The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Authority has registered 10,802 varieties across 219 crop species.
• An extensive institutional framework, including 229 Seed Hubs and 384 Breeder Seed Production Centres, supports seed production and distribution.
• The Seed Authentication, Traceability and Holistic Inventory (SATHI) Portal facilitates digital traceability and quality assurance in the seed value chain.
• India actively participates in international frameworks like ITPGRFA and OECD Seed Schemes to align with global standards and access germplasm.

Detailed Insights:

• NARES, comprising ICAR Institutes, State Agricultural Universities, and AICRP on Seed (Crops), leads R&D for improved crop varieties.
• Among climate-resilient varieties, 341 are drought tolerant, 89 flood tolerant, 80 salinity tolerant, 59 heat stress tolerant, and 18 cold tolerant.
• The government promotes production of breeder, foundation, and certified seeds of high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties.
• Quality assurance is maintained through 178 notified Seed Testing Laboratories (STLs), with support for ISTA membership and accreditation.
• Seed quality is regulated by the Seeds Act, 1966, Seeds Rules, 1968, and Seeds (Control) Order, 1983.
• Procedures for import and export of seeds have been simplified, with approvals facilitated through DGFT's digital platforms.
• India's membership in ITPGRFA provides access to global germplasm for domestic R&D.
• Collaborations with CGIAR system institutions like IRRI and ICRISAT facilitate knowledge exchange and climate-resilient seed technologies.
• IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) at Varanasi and International Potato Center (CIP) South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) at Agra were established with government support.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are promoted for seed multiplication, varietal evaluation, and technology dissemination, with 1,317 licensing agreements executed (2023-26).
• Financial assistance for seed infrastructure, processing, storage, and testing is provided through schemes like AIF, NFSNM, NMEO-Oilseeds, and RKVY.
• Advanced technologies like Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS), Gene Editing, and Speed Breeding are used for rapid crop improvement.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES): India's comprehensive network of agricultural research and education institutions.
• Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act: Legislation protecting the rights of plant breeders and farmers over new plant varieties.
• Seed Authentication, Traceability and Holistic Inventory (SATHI) Portal: A digital platform for end-to-end traceability and quality assurance in the seed value chain.
• International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA): A global framework for the conservation, sustainable use, and equitable sharing of benefits from plant genetic resources.