India's Seed Policies and the Need for Reform

During the National Seed Congress (NSC), experts, scientists, and industry partners came together to highlight the need to revise and modernize the Seeds Bill of 2004 and the Seeds Policy of 2002. They called for these policies to reflect the current challenges and advances in the seed industry, as well as to address farmers' concerns more effectively.

India’s Seed Industry

• Seed is the most important and vital input for agricultural production.
• In fact, it is the most cost efficient means of increasing agricultural production and productivity.
• Seeds Efficacy of other agricultural inputs in enhancing productivity and production, such as fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation is largely determined by the quality of seed.
• The Indian seed industry’s foundation was established in the 1960s and subsequent policies in the late 1980s, including the New Seed Development Policy (1988-1989), transformed the industry and provided Indian farmers access to superior seed and planting materials.
• In 2022, the Indian seed market was valued at $6.3 billion, projected to reach $12.7 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 12.43 per cent.
• Focus area for the sector: Pest and disease-resistant seeds, drought and heat-tolerant varieties, and more nutritious options to address the challenges of climate change and enhance nutritional value.
• Technological Advancement made in Seed Industry:
  • Genetic advancement - Seed technology used today combines genetic advancement with applied technologies to provide quality-enhanced seeds with the ability to withstand a range of biotic and abiotic stressors.
  • Priming and enhancement technologies- Priming and enhancement technologies are emerging as an essential package of practices to ensure that seeds perform well under a wide range of growing conditions.
  • Film coating technology- Film coating technology is applied to organic and inorganic cultivation to improve seed handling, precision planting and use as carriers of pesticides and nutrients.

Issues in the Seed sector

There are several roadblocks to the growth of India’s seed sector:

• Outdated laws and conflict between Central and State regulations make it difficult to implement policies effectively.
• Poor availability of quality seeds, especially for smallholder farmers, and high dependency on informal seed systems are major challenges.
• Conflicts over proprietary technologies (like genetically modified seeds) and farmers’ rights were also mentioned, as well as disagreements over royalties and technology-sharing agreements between private companies and farmers.
• The sector’s reliance on imported germplasm (genetic material for creating hybrid seeds) is also a concern, as it prevents self-sufficiency.
• There is a lack of investment in seed research and development to develop better varieties suited for local conditions.
• Climate Change: Heatwaves caused a 4.5 per cent decrease in wheat yield across India, with some areas experiencing up to a 15 per cent drop in April 2022 due to an unprecedented rise in temperatures in the month.
  • The combination of water scarcity, heatwaves, frequent droughts, and unpredictable monsoons presents a significant challenge to India’s agricultural productivity.
  • These challenges underscore the urgent need to prioritise the development of drought-resistant crop varieties. 

Suggestions for Reform:

• The government should focus on improving farmer education on the importance of good quality seeds.
• There is need for strengthening seed cooperatives to help empower smallholder farmers and make high-quality seeds more accessible.
• The seed certification system should be made more transparent and in line with global standards to ensure better seed quality.