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Seed is the basic input for increasing productivity in agriculture. It is estimated that the quality of seed accounts for 20 to 25 per cent of productivity.42 Thus, the adoption of quality seeds needs promotion in India. There are multiple challenges to the development and adoption of quality seeds in the form of –
(i) Inadequate research inputs for development of new seeds especially,
(ii) Early ripening and resistant (to pest, moisture variations, etc.) varieties,
(iii) High cost of seeds for small and marginal farmers,
(iv) Shortage of supply of quality seeds,
(v) Non-resolution of issues related to adoption of Genetically Modified Seeds, and
(vi) Inadequate number of players restricting competition. The issues 43 that require immediate attention are:
(i) Affordability: Open pollinated varieties of seeds can be developed by farmers from their own harvested crops. However, for high-yielding hybrid varieties, the farmer has to depend on the market for each crop which gets very costly for the small and marginal farmers.
(ii) Availability: Quality seeds have shortage in supply. While there is a demand for banning non-certified seeds, certification per-se does not ensure quality seeds. Presence of more players (both public and private) and competition in the market for seeds would improve this situation.
(iii) Research and Development of Seeds and Seed technology: The first Green Revolution was driven by indigenously developed High Yielding Varieties (HYVs) of seeds for paddy and wheat. Inadequate research and genetic engineering has been a constraint in the development of seeds and seed technologies in major crops during the past few decades in India. There is need to encourage development of seed technologies in both private and public sectors to initiate another round of Green Revolution. This development should cover all agricultural segments.
(iv) GM crops and seeds: Concerns about its affordability, environmental and ethical issues, risks to the food chain, disease spread and cross pollination have resulted in their non-introduction.