1.11.1. Seeds

Seeds are a critical input for agricultural crops. In India, farmers typically rely on farm-saved seeds, overuse of which leads to a low seed replacement rate and poor yield. An Indian Seed Programme for encouraging the development of new varieties and protecting the rights of farmers and plant breeders has been put in place with the participation of central and state governments, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), state agricultural universities, seed cooperatives, and private sectors. A central-sector Scheme for development and strengthening of infrastructure facilities for production and distribution of quality seeds, with the aim of making quality seeds of various crops available to farmers at affordable price, is under implementation since 2005-06. A Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material under the National Mission for Agricultural Extension and Technology has been approved for the Twelfth Five Year Plan.