National Conference on Agriculture Kharif Campaign- 2019

1. National Conference on Agriculture Kharif Campaign-2019 Recommendations of the session on Making seeds of new high yielding and short duration varieties of crops available to the farmers on time by the states through various seed producing agencies with specific package of practices April 26, 2019 New Delhi

2. Group V • Co-Chaired by JS (Seeds) and JS (Crops) and moderated by ADG (Seed), ICAR • More than 50 participants representing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujrat, Uttrakhand, Maharashtra, Utter Pradesh, Odisha, Manipur, Assam, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, DAC&FW and NSC participated in the discussions • Brief account of various initiatives by the Seed Division • Information about the newly developed high yielding, short duration, climate resilient and bio-fortified varieties; and their seed availability was also given

3. Varieties of field crops released and notified during 2014-2019

4. Bio-fortified varieties for minikitsalongwith their seed availability

7. New Initiatives • Soybean Seed breeder seed deficit • Varietal mismatches and inclusion of new varieties in seed chain • Protocol for Seed Rolling Plan was developed, shared with all states • Breeder seed indents of Kharif crops were finalized

8. Group recommendations • To popularize the new varieties of different crops on large scale, on farm demonstrations will conducted by State Government/Central Institutions/State Institutions and KVKs. Funding support will be provided by DAC&FW under structured programme for specified new varieties. • Subsidy should be extended on production of foundation and certified/ Labelled seeds on targeted varieties including the Seed farms of States/PSU, ICAR Institutes, KVKs and SAUs. • Varietal characteristics and package of practice (POP) of newly released/notified varieties will be uploaded on the Seednet portal and seed producing agencies will ensure to supply the POP along with seed packets. • Seeds of research varieties may not be allowed for commercial sale to the farmers.

9. 5. Area norms under seed village programme may be revised from currently one acre to one hectare per beneficiary farmer. • 6. Production subsidy may be allowed under NFSM on new varieties of wheat and rice also as in case of pulses. • Monitoring teams for breeder seed production programme constituted by ICAR should also include a representative from respective State Department of Agriculture. • Landmark varieties should be identified and their substitute should be developed. Till the suitable substitute is not available, these varieties should be allowed under various GOI Scheme.

10. For ensuring the availability of quality seeds to the farmers, Seed Testing Laboratories (STLs) should be established in each district and existing STLs should be strengthened. • Breeder seed production centres should be supported for infrastructure development. • Mechanism for seed traceability should be devised for maintaining proper seed chain ensuring supply of true to type quality seed of different varieties. • Good quality certified/test stock seeds of new varieties should be supplied under mini-kits scheme by seed producing agencies and area under mini-kits scheme should be enhanced.

11. Protection of traditional varieties under PPV&FR Authority and their promotion should be encouraged. • Production subsidy under NFSM may be provided to the farmers by seed producing agency through DBT. • Simplification of certification procedure and strengthening of Seed Certification Agencies is required for enhancing the quality seed production. • Capacity building of Seed Inspectors/State Govt. Officers/ Seed Testing Lab Officials/Seed Certification Officer/Seed Growers is required.

12. Thanks