05-28-2010, 02:57 AM
From being mere farmers to becoming farmer-entrepreneurs is the big transformation taking place in the lives of numerous farmers in northern states. This is happening under an initiative by the New Delhi-based Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI, or Pusa Institute) to involve farmers in the production of seeds of crop varieties developed by it. Grain-growers are being helped to take up the lucrative business of seed production under this programme.
Besides improving the income of the farmers, this initiative has helped augment the availability of quality seeds to boost overall farm productivity. ââ¬ÅCrop yields generally increase by 20 to 30 per cent with the use of fresh and good quality seeds. Seed producer farmers, on the other hand, can earn a net profit of up to Rs 1 lakh per hectare,ââ¬Â IARI Director H S Gupta told Business Standard. http://www.business-standard.com/india/n...rs/395993/
Besides improving the income of the farmers, this initiative has helped augment the availability of quality seeds to boost overall farm productivity. ââ¬ÅCrop yields generally increase by 20 to 30 per cent with the use of fresh and good quality seeds. Seed producer farmers, on the other hand, can earn a net profit of up to Rs 1 lakh per hectare,ââ¬Â IARI Director H S Gupta told Business Standard. http://www.business-standard.com/india/n...rs/395993/