05-09-2008, 03:27 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Overused seeds major impediment in increasing productivity: Farmers </b>
pioneer.com
Priti Bajaj | New Delhi
The UPA Government may claim to take all possible steps to check sale of sub-standard agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilisers, insecticides etc., yet poor quality seeds continue to hit farm productivity. The farmers' associations have asked the Government to replace the existing lot of 'overused' seeds.<b> Even the seed industry has claimed the Government could have served the farmers better by providing them quality seeds and rather than going in for a massive Rs 60,000-crore loan waiver. </b>
Â
Agricultural experts said infrastructure status to seed industry would encourage investment in modernisation of seed processing plants which in turn would improve the farm produce helping farmers increase their income. Seeds are a key input and determinant of crop productivity, and improved seed quality alone can contribute about 25 per cent of yield.
According to farmers, usage of sub-standard and spurious seeds have resulted in stagnation of yields and various national and international commissions appointed for development of agriculture, including MS Swaminathan Report, have suggested 100 per cent seed replacement to enable to provide food security. In fact farmers' organisations have sought additional budget allotment be made for provision of certified seed for all agriculture holdings in the country.
Farmers and the seed industry players have called for the creation of a dedicated Seed and Technology Development Fund, which would have been a clear signal to global and domestic industry to invest in agriculture for the betterment of Indian farmers, RK Sinha, executive director, All India Crop Biotech Association (AICBA) said.
"A dedicated Seed Technology and Development Fund would have worked well for the long-term benefit of the farmer, industry and the economy," he added.
<b>While the Agriculture Ministry estimates show, the total availability of quality seeds in India during 2005-06 was 140.51 lakh quintals as against the requirement of 107.08 lakh quintals. The availability of quality seeds for the year 2006-07 is 148.18 lakh quintals as against the requirement of 128.76 lakh quintals. </b>
Seed characteristics such as germination, high seedling vigor, and genetic purity are as important as other inputs. Thus, while inputs such fertilisers and water are important, the crucial input for increasing productivity is superior quality seed through the use of superior technologies.
Although the Indian seed market is one of the largest, it is almost exclusively supplied by locally produced seeds. Farmers retain seed of major food crops (wheat, rice, sorghum, millet, corn, and pulses) and commercial crops for many years, and the largest volume of seed trade involves local exchanges of established self-pollinating varieties. The seed replacement rate in most crops is very low, with the exception of cotton and some vegetables. The use of hybrid seeds is mostly confined to cotton, and to some extent to corn, millet, sunflower, and few vegetables.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
pioneer.com
Priti Bajaj | New Delhi
The UPA Government may claim to take all possible steps to check sale of sub-standard agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilisers, insecticides etc., yet poor quality seeds continue to hit farm productivity. The farmers' associations have asked the Government to replace the existing lot of 'overused' seeds.<b> Even the seed industry has claimed the Government could have served the farmers better by providing them quality seeds and rather than going in for a massive Rs 60,000-crore loan waiver. </b>
Â
Agricultural experts said infrastructure status to seed industry would encourage investment in modernisation of seed processing plants which in turn would improve the farm produce helping farmers increase their income. Seeds are a key input and determinant of crop productivity, and improved seed quality alone can contribute about 25 per cent of yield.
According to farmers, usage of sub-standard and spurious seeds have resulted in stagnation of yields and various national and international commissions appointed for development of agriculture, including MS Swaminathan Report, have suggested 100 per cent seed replacement to enable to provide food security. In fact farmers' organisations have sought additional budget allotment be made for provision of certified seed for all agriculture holdings in the country.
Farmers and the seed industry players have called for the creation of a dedicated Seed and Technology Development Fund, which would have been a clear signal to global and domestic industry to invest in agriculture for the betterment of Indian farmers, RK Sinha, executive director, All India Crop Biotech Association (AICBA) said.
"A dedicated Seed Technology and Development Fund would have worked well for the long-term benefit of the farmer, industry and the economy," he added.
<b>While the Agriculture Ministry estimates show, the total availability of quality seeds in India during 2005-06 was 140.51 lakh quintals as against the requirement of 107.08 lakh quintals. The availability of quality seeds for the year 2006-07 is 148.18 lakh quintals as against the requirement of 128.76 lakh quintals. </b>
Seed characteristics such as germination, high seedling vigor, and genetic purity are as important as other inputs. Thus, while inputs such fertilisers and water are important, the crucial input for increasing productivity is superior quality seed through the use of superior technologies.
Although the Indian seed market is one of the largest, it is almost exclusively supplied by locally produced seeds. Farmers retain seed of major food crops (wheat, rice, sorghum, millet, corn, and pulses) and commercial crops for many years, and the largest volume of seed trade involves local exchanges of established self-pollinating varieties. The seed replacement rate in most crops is very low, with the exception of cotton and some vegetables. The use of hybrid seeds is mostly confined to cotton, and to some extent to corn, millet, sunflower, and few vegetables.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->