Seed is a critical and basic input for attaining sustained growth in agricultural production. Seed is carrier of new technology for crops production. Distribution of assured quality seed is necessary for attaining higher crop yields. The Indian seed programme involves the participation of Central and State Governments, the research system of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the State Agriculture Universities (SAUs), public sector, private sector and co-operative sector institutions. The seed sector in the country today comprises two national level Seed Corporation, i.e. the National Seeds Corporation (NSC) and the State Farm Corporation of India (SFCI), 13 State Seed Corporations (SSCs) and more than 200 prominent private seed companies. For quality control and certification, there are 20 State Seed Certification Agencies (SSCAs) and 99 State Seed Testing Laboratories.

The New Seed Policy initiated by Government of India in 1988 has spurred a growth in the Indian seed industry. This motivated a number of national industrial houses and a few multi-national companies of venture into seed business. The Royal Commission on agriculture constituted in 1925 examined inter alia the introduction and spread of improved varieties and the progress of seed distribution. Following the suggestions of the Royal Commission, the Government of India and several State Governments established a number of research institutes. With increased efforts several improved strains of cash crops namely, sugarcane, cotton, jute and food crops like wheat and paddy were developed. The Grow More Food Enquiry Committee (1952) constituted during the period revealed that by and large seed of requisite purity was not available to farmers. The setting up of the first All India Coordinated Maize Improvement Programme by the ICAR in collaboration with the Rockefeller Foundation can rightly be considered as a most significant turning point in Indian agriculture. Encouraged by results of this approach the ICAR simultaneously introduced in 1960 similar projects for sorghum and bajra, which released the first sorghum and bajra hybrids in 1964 and 1965 respectively.

The conception of idea of the Central Seeds Corporation led to the formation of National Seeds Corporation Limited (NSC) in 1963. The NSC was looked upon as an agency which would promote the healthy development of the seed industry in India, initiate measures leading to production of high quality seeds and in particular, produce, process and market single crosses of hybrid maize. The NSC shouldered the major responsibility of foundation seed production, certified seed production, seed certification and seed marketing. In addition to these activities it also assisted in the setting up of seed processing plants, creating of a hard core of private producers and in the training of individuals involved in seed production programmes.

During this same period the role of the State Departments of Agriculture have undergone a considerable change. States initiated a system of contract production of seeds through private seed growers. Foundation seeds were obtained either from their own State Seed Farms or from the National Seeds Corporation.

Launching of HYVP (High Yielding Varieties Programme) by Governments of India in 1966 was another most significant milestone in the development of seed industry. This programme had an almost explosive effect on the seed industry and necessitated huge efforts in seed production, processing, certification, testing, storage and seed distribution, etc. A strong R&D backup, availability of relatively less expensive agricultural labour is another advantage, which can contribute to the growth of the seed industry.

Ag.
Technologies
(Seeds)