National Seed Policy



National Seed Policy

The Seed Act, 1966, seed control order 1983 and New Policy on Seeds Development, 1988, from the basis of promotion and regulation of the Indian Seed Industry.

The “New Seed Policy” of 1988 ushered in a new area of growth and phenomenal development. Because, it allowed limited import of commercial seed, remove curbs on imports of seeds of vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants and even allowed import of seed of course cereals, pulses and oilseeds for a period of two years.

The important constraints were

            • Non existence of National Seed Policy

            • IPR laws

            • Restrictions and licenses on seed exports and imports

            • Lack of incentives for the public and private seed sectors of the country

India later developed the National Seed Policy in 2002. The main objectives are the provision of an appropriate climate for the seed industry to utilize available and prospective opportunities, safe guarding of the interests of Indian farmers and the conservation of agro-biodiversity.

• Thrust Areas Varietal Development and PVP
• Seed Production
• Quality Assurance
• Seed Distribution and Marketing.
• Infrastructure facilities
• Transgenic Plant Varieties
• Import of seeds and planting material
• Export of seeds
• Promotion of Domestic Seed
• Strengthening of monitoring system

Varietal Development and PVP

To stimulate investment in research and development (R&D) new varieties an effective sui generic system for IPR will be implemented.

Seed Production

India seed programme will adheres to generation system of multiplication namely nucleus, breeder, foundation and certified seed. Public seed sector will be restructured and will continue to have free access to breeder seed, while Private Seed Sector will have conditional access. Seed village scheme will be facilitated to upgrade the quality of farmers saved seeds.

Quality Assurance  

• New Seed Act will be enacted.
• National Seed Board will be established as apex body in place of existing Central Seed Committee to implement New Seed Act.
• National Seeds Register will be maintained varieties will be registered based on “Value for Cultivation and Usage”. (VCU).

Seed Distribution and Marketing

• Seed Distribution and Marketing of any variety will be subject to registry in NSB.
• National Seed Grid will be established as a data base on seed requirement, production, distribution and farmers preference.
• Access to finance from commercial banks will be facilitated.

Infrastructure facilities

• National Seed Research and Training center (NSRTC) will be set up.
• Seed processing and storage faculties will be augmented.
• Computerized National Seed Grid will be established to provide information on seeds marketing.

Transgenic Plant Varieties

• All GM crops will be tested for environment and bio safety before commercial release as per EPA (1986).
• Seeds of GM crops will be imported only through NBPGR as per the EPA (1986).
• Required infrastructure will be developed for testing, identification and evaluation of transgenic planting material.

Import of seeds and planting material

Provision will be made to make available best planting material from anywhere in the world to Indian farmers without any compromise on quarantine requirements.

Export of seeds

• Long term policy will be evolved to exploit varied agro climatic condition of India and strong seed production system, to raise seed export from present level of less than 1% to 10% by 2020.
• Seed export promotion zones will be established and strengthened.
• Data Bank on International Market will be created.

Promotion of Domestic Seed

Industry It will be facilitated by providing incentives to domestic seed industry, financial support through NABARD, commercial and co-operative banks, considering tax rebate / concessions for R&D, reduction of import duty on machines and equipment used for seed production and encouragement of membership in National and International organization related to seed.

Strengthening of monitoring system

Strengthening of Department of Agriculture and Co-operation (DAC) will supervise the implementation of National Seed Policy.