Biotech Updates

India Drives Out 'Farm Saved Seeds with Seeds of Improved Varieties'

September 4, 2009

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has been working on an ambitious "Seed Production in Agricultural Crops" project to create awareness on the importance of quality seeds among farmers. The project aims to quantum jump quality production of seeds of improved varieties with superior genetics and to motivate farmers to substitute age-old farm-saved seeds. The Planning Commission of India has sanctioned Indian Rupee 2622 million for the seed project covering field crops, horticulture and fisheries during 2005 to 2009 to enhance quality seed planting material/fish seed production and capacity building of the National Agricultural Research System by providing required infrastructure, equipment and implements.

In the annual review meeting of the seed project held on 24 to 25 August 2009, Prof. Swapan Kumar Datta, Deputy Director General (Crop Science) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) stressed the importance of educating farmers regarding the significance of quality seeds and the need to replace farm-saved seeds with quality seeds of improved varieties. He enumerated steps taken by ICAR under the seed project that made a significant impact on national seed production in the last three years and suggested strategies to formulate dynamic contingent seed production plan and crop wise monitoring of seed production. "We need to upgrade our production in terms of quality to play an important role in seed trade at national and international levels," said Datta. The seed project involves various agencies at national and state levels including ICAR institutions and project directorates, State Agricultural Universities and cooperating centers across the length and breadth of the country.

For details about the ICAR seed project visit the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) website at: http://www.icar.org.in/news/Replace-farm-saved-seeds%20.htm For more information about crop biotech in India contact: b.choudhary@cgiar.org and k.gaur@cgiar.org