Department of Agriculture & Cooperation Kharif Campaign 2006

1. Department of Agriculture & Cooperation Kharif Campaign 2006 Presentation on Seeds, Biofuels, Mechanisation, Integrated Nutrient Management and Organic Farming

2. SEEDS

3. Seed comprising all forms of propagules is the starting point for the entire agricultural production system and a catalyst for realizing the potential of all other inputs It is estimated that quality seeds of improved varieties can contribute upto 45% to crop production

4. The direct contribution of various inputs to crop production is as under : • Improved Varieties - 25% • Quality Seed - 15-20% • INM - 15-20% • Weed Control - 5-10% • IPM - 5-10%

5. The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation has taken major initiatives in the seed sector. These include- • Formulation of National Seed Plan • Revamping of the breeder seed indenting system • Revitalization of the seed corporations • Constitution of Task Forces for enhancing agricultural production including the production of seeds in the States • Restructuring of the various schemes of the seeds division into integrated scheme on Development and Strengthening of Infrastructure Facilities for Production and Distribution of Quality Seeds

6. National Seed Plan The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation has drawn up a National Seed Plan for all the major crops and for all the States of the country. The National Seed Plan is based on the National Seeds Policy, 2002 and also the scientific assessment of seed requirements. The objective of the National Seed Plan are :-

7. Production of required quantity of quality seeds suitable for different agro-climatic regions of the country by States Seeds Corporations, National Seeds Corporation, State Departments of Agriculture and seed industry • Making quality seeds available to farmers at the relevant time and at affordable prices • Continuous development of new and improved varieties of crops • Efficient system of production and supply of seed to farmers • Raise the seed replacement rates to 25% and 35% for self pollinated and cross pollinated crops respectively

8. According to the National Seed Plan the gap between the requirement and availability is quite large as given in the table below:-

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13. The breeder seed indent system has been revised with a view to bring about better cohesion between seed development, seed production and seed allocation agencies. The emphasis is on development, production and distribution of seeds of high yielding varietiesandhybridssuitable fordifferent agro-climatic regions. The breeder seed indent system has been in operation for many years. The State Governments submit indents for breeder seeds, which are allotted to them for Kharif and Rabi after consultations between ICAR, the State Departments of Agriculture and Seeds Corporations. The breeder seeds allotted/provided are to be multiplied into foundation and certified seeds. The following details however, illustrate that this does not happen in all the States:

14. Examples Andhra Pradesh has produced more certified seed of paddy than the quantity which could have been produced from the breeder seed allotted into 2004. However, in spite of its certified seed production of paddy, the State is still short of the requirements of seed of other crops as assessed in the National Seeds Plan. States like Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Haryana and Punjab are producing seeds from the allotted breeder seed according to SMR.

15. Assam Assam has produced 58,660 quintals of paddy seeds out of 28.9 quintals of breeder seeds allotted in 2004. Applying the standard multiplication rate this should have multiplied into 1,84,960 quintals of certified seeds. Similar is the position with regard to Urad and Arhar. The State it seems has not produced any Arhar seed out of the 16 kgs breeder seed allotted and lifted into 2004. Similarly, Bihar has under produced paddy and wheat certified seeds from the breeder seeds allotted/lifted for these crops in 2004. The State did not place any indent for breeder seed of pulses and oil seeds in 2004 and even in 2006. In the State of Orissa the multiplication of breeder seed for Urad, Moong, Arhar, Groundnut, Til and Sunflower has not taken place to the standard seed multiplication ratio. Details of breeder seed allotted and seed available are given below:-

31. SEED REPLACEMENT RATE The seed replacement rate is not increasing in all the States to the desired level as shown in the following table:-

32. STATE-WISE SEED REPLACEMENT RATE OF IMPORTANT CROPS

40. Requirement and availability of certified seed for Kharif 2006

42. Schemes of the Seed Sector • The restructured scheme on Development and Strengthening of Infrastructure Facilities for Production and Distribution of Quality Seeds has following components: • Quality control of seeds • Establishment and Maintenance of Seed Bank • Transport subsidy on movement of seeds • Seed Village Scheme • Assistance for creation of infrastructure facilities for • production and distribution of quality seeds for newly • formed State Seeds Corporation and newly formed States. • Assistance for boosting seed production in private sectors. • Human Resource Development. • Hybrid Cereal Seed Production • Use of biotechnology in crop production

43. BIOTECHNOLOGY

44. BIOTECHNOLOGY

45. Biotechnology is a powerful technological tool for converting biological resources into economic wealth

46. Agriculture comprising crops and animal husbandry, fisheries, agro-forestry and agro-processing is the backbone of our national food security and rural livelihood security systems. There are about 110 million operational holdings in the country. The smaller the farm, the greater is the need for higher productivity and marketable surplus. This underscores the need for application of Biotechnology to agriculture. Recognizing the need for raising agricultural production through application of biotechnology, the Government of India set up a Task Force on applications of agricultural Biotechnology headed by Prof. M.S.Swaminathan in May, 2003.

47. The Task Force submitted its Report in May 2004. The recommendations of the Task Force have been accepted and processed. The most important recommendations of the Task Force regarding constitution of a National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority is under consideration of the Government.

48. The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation has made a sufficient budgetary provision for promotion of application of biotechnology in agriculture for the following: • Capacity Building and Training of Manpower for upgradation of Post Release monitoring • Quality Control of Genetically Modified Seeds/Crops • Training of Manpower • Awareness Campaign • Tissue Culture

49. Plant Tissue Culture Technology has the potential of revolutionizing agriculture by enabling mass production of elite, high yielding and disease free plants throughout the year. According to the Biotech Consortium India Limited, BTIC, viable protocols are available for banana, grapes, pineapple, strawberry, sugarcane, potato, turmeric, ginger, large and small cardamom, vanilla, aloe Vera, geranium, stevia, gerbera, carnations, anthuriums, syngonium, lilly and for few tree species namely teak, white teak, bamboo eucalyptus etc.

50. BIO-FUEL