No shortage of good quality seeds
has been felt in the country. The details of availability of
certified/quality seed against the requirement in the country for the last
three years is as under:-
Quantity in Lakh Quintals
|
2009-10
|
2010-11
|
2011-12
|
|
R*
|
A*
|
R*
|
A*
|
R*
|
A*
|
|
249.12
|
279.72
|
290.76
|
321.36
|
330.41
|
353.62
|
R*
Requirement A*Availability
The Government is already implementing a
Central Sector Scheme titled “Development and Strengthening of Infrastructure
Facilities for Production and Distribution of Quality Seeds”.
Under this scheme there is a separate component “Establishment and Maintenance
of Seed Bank” for meeting the requirement of seeds during natural calamities
like flood, drought. and other unforeseen conditions
and also to meet the shortage of seeds, if any, in the country. Seed Banks maintain seed stock of foundation
and certified seeds of short and medium duration varieties which are locally
suited to the area and are able to withstand stress of heat, submergence etc.
The scheme is implemented through State
Seeds Corporations, State Governments
and two national seed producing Public Sector Undertakings namely National
Seeds Corporation of India (NSC) and State Farms Corporation of India
(SFCI). Government provides revolving
fund to the implementing agencies for procurement of raw seeds and
reimbursement of the expenditure incurred on the maintenance of seeds including
transportation, grading & packing, insurance and seed losses during
storage.
This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food
Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok
Sabha today.
MP:SB: CP: seeds (20.12.2011)