Scientists, industry demand passage of new Seeds Bill, changes in policy

• On the second day of the three-day National Seed Congress (NSC), scientists, experts and industry partners asked the Centre to revisit and modernise the Seeds Bill of 2004 and the Seeds Policy of 2002 to incorporate the latest developments in the sector.

Highlights:

• At the 13th National Seed Congress (NSC), experts, scientists, and industry stakeholders urged the government to revisit and modernize the Seeds Bill of 2004 and the Seeds Policy of 2002. These legislative frameworks were deemed outdated and inadequate to address contemporary challenges in the seed sector.

Need for Strategic Interventions:

• During a panel discussion, experts highlighted the importance of strategic reforms to tackle issues in the sector. Shiv Kumar Agarwal, Regional Coordinator of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, emphasized the need for balanced policies that integrate innovation, farmer empowerment, and sectoral reforms.

Key suggestions included:

• Collaborative efforts between public and private sectors to ensure access to quality seeds.
• Revisiting the Seeds Bill to incorporate farmers’ concerns and adapt to current industry demands.

Gaps in Seed Quality Assurance:

• Dr. Malvika Dadlani, Former Joint Director of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute, highlighted critical shortcomings in India’s seed quality assurance systems:
• Outdated Standards: The Seeds Act, 1966 and Seeds Rules, 1968 remain unrevised, leading to subpar certification standards compared to international benchmarks.
• Need for Clear Definitions: A distinct classification between farmer seeds and commercial seeds was deemed necessary.

Challenges Facing the Seed Sector:

• The panellists identified several key challenges hindering the growth of India’s seed industry:
• Policy and Jurisdictional Issues: Overlapping roles of Central and State authorities and inconsistent policy implementation.
• Limited Access for Smallholder Farmers: A low supply of quality seeds and reliance on informal seed systems.
• Technological and Research Gaps:
  • Dependence on imported germplasm for advanced hybrids.
  • Insufficient investment in research and development.
• Conflicts Over Proprietary Technologies: Disputes regarding royalties and technology-sharing agreements.

Proposed Solutions for Sectoral Growth:

• The experts recommended a farmer-centric approach to overcome these hurdles:
  • Farmer Education: Raising awareness about the benefits of quality seeds.
  • Strengthening Seed Cooperatives: Empowering smallholder farmers through collective support systems.
  • Policy Overhaul: Revising outdated legislation to align with global standards and current realities.

Prelims Takeaways

• National Seed Congress (NSC)
• Seeds Bill of 2004