Chairman’s Presentation at Indian Seed Congress CMD shares his view about Seed Industry’s contribution to agricultural transformation in India Seed congress which gives an overview of the Industry’s contribution as a whole and role of Nuziveedu as a leader.

1. The Future Of Indian Agriculture
-Role of Indian Seed Industry-
M. Prabhakar Rao
Nuziveedu Seeds Limited
1

2. Evolution of Indian Agriculture
2

3. Evolution over 40 years
3
82 108 130
176 197
252
Food Grain Production Million
Tons
7 9.6 9.4
18.6 18.5
30
Oil seed Production In
Million Tons
5.6 4.8 7 9.8 9.5
35.2
1960-611970-711980-811990-912000-012011-12
Cotton Production in Million Bales
Cotton Bale-170 kg
(Source- Dept. Of Ag. GOI)

4. Productivity of Major Field Crops
4
To even out the effect of extreme weather variations
*1998-99 data is avg. of six preceding years 1993-94 to 1998-99
**2011-12 data is avg. of six preceding years 2005-06 to 2011-12
Productivity kg/ha
1998-99* 2011-12**
Crops Productivity Productivity Growth %
Cotton 240.83 452.66 88
Paddy 1883.15 2180.50 15.8
Maize 1665.83 2228.83 33.8
Wheat 2529 2802 10.8
Pulses 599.3 634.6 5.9
Oilseeds 863.16 1026.5 33.1

5. But this growth not adequate
5
227
280
1.3X
Food Grain
Milk
Vegetable & Fruits
Meat /Fish/egg
2007 2020
2007 2020
2007 2020
2007 2020
111
270
109.8
202.2
11.6
30.1
1.8X
2.6X 2.8X
Source: Estimate of Food Demand—Working Paper No. 209, ICRIER; NSSO Interviews
Food Demand likely to go up
from~ 450 MMT to 780 MMT in 2020

6. CHALLENGES & WAY FORWARD
6

7. The key challenges
7
Productivity gaps
Technological
interventions
Govt. Policies &
Regulation
Labour shortage
Challenges

8. Productivity gaps
8
9.5
3.1
Egypt India
7.8
2.6
UK India China India
60
85
63
Australia India
Crop Yield (t/ha) highest vs. India
Rice Wheat Cotton Sugarcane

9. Potential to increase production
9
Agricultural
Production
Area (Limited)
Productivity
Seeds
R&D and
Technologies to
constantly
improve seeds
Nutrition
(Limited)
Irrigation
(Limited)
Agronomic
practices
New practices to
match the genotype,
extension and
training

10. Keys to break Productivity barriers
10
Superior Planting
Material
Agronomic Innovations
(improved practices)
Extension services

11. Superior Planting Material
• Genetic enhancement for productivity
• Tolerance to biotic & abiotic stress
through-
 Superior germplasm
 Introgression of GM or Non-GM traits
 Use of molecular markers to expedite
11

12. Some Examples -
 High density planting in Cotton/Maize
 Direct Seeded Rice
12
Agronomic Innovations
Right
Products
Right
Agronomy
High
Yield

13. High density planting : cotton
• Current seed rates of cotton at 1.61 pkts/
acre, translates to 7200 plants per acre
• An increase in plant population results in
direct increase in yield, with right agronomy
• 50% increase means additional revenue of
Rs.35k crores, net income of Rs.25k crores
• Changing habits would require enormous
amount of education and needs industry
push and government support.
13

14. Reaching Farmers through Extension
Private
Public-Private
Partnerships
( PPP)
Public
14
Product
development/
Marketing Teams
Extension
Workers
Government encourages PPP’s and issued guidelines
under RKVY
The need today is to intensify Extension education by:

15. Case: High density planting + PPP
Vidharbha
Objective: To Increase the Productivity and Production
of Cotton farmers by 50% in the Project.
Main Concept:-
 High Density Population
 Formations of Effective Farmer SHGs
 Use of Plant Growth Regulator.
 Use of Integrated Nutrient Mgmt
 Use of Integrated Pest Mgmt.
 Post Harvest Management.
15

16. Areas of Interventions
16
Particulars Traditional Methods
Under Public Private
Project
Plant Population Traditional spacing
High Density closing
spacing
Micro nutrients Rare
Applied based on soil
testing
Plant Growth
Regulators
Not Applied
scientifically
Applied scientifically
Expert Assistance Not Available
Timely Advice
available
Market linkage
Not Available
Available

17. Spacing and Plant Population
• The above data is based on averages. The actual spacing / density has been adopted farmer-wise based
on the soil type andWater Availability. 17
District Taluka
Traditional
spacing
(Ft)
Plant
Density
per acre
Spacing
under
PPP(Ft)
Plant
Density per
acre under
PPP
%
increase
of Plants
Popl.
Akola Akot 3*2 7293 3.5*1 12502 71%
Telhara 3*2 7293 3.5*1 12502 71%
Amaravati Daryapur 3*2 7293 3*1 14586 100%
Anjangaon
surji
3*2 7293 3*1 14586 100%
Buldhana Sangrampur 4*1.5 7293 3.5*1 12502 71%
Jalgoan
Jamod
3*1.5 9724 3.5*1 12502 28%

18. PPP- Activities Done
• Soil sample Testing of 1652 farmers and recommended use
of fertilizer dosage accordingly.
• Distribution of Seed Packets -20,676 packets
• Regular Visit of Technical team to Guide the Farmer .
• Conducted Training Programs in Three stages.
• Supply of Micronutrients to Farmers. -103 tonnes
• Supply of Growth Regulators- 3800ltrs.
• Distribution Liquid nutrients for Foliar spray of 12MT.
18

19. Other Activities Done
• 93 Registered Farmer Groups were formed .
• Voice Mail to all the Farmers regarding Time specific activities for
the Crop
• Procurement of Kapas at Market Price at our Ginning and Pressing
mill at Hiwarkhed.
• Ginning of Kapas of Farmers at our Ginning and Pressing mill.
• Facilitating Storage of Bales of Farmers.
• Arrangements with Banks – HDFC bank, Yes bank and ICICI bank for
Warehouse receipt based funding for cotton bales of Farmers.
19

20. PPP Project: Expected Yields
20
District Taluka
No. of
Acres
Last year
Avg.Yd(Qtls)
Present
Avg.Yd(Qtls)
% Increase
Akola Akot 3365 5.30 7.75 52%
Telhara 2573 5.28 6.48 45%
Buldhana Sangrampur 1924 5.30 8.43 60%
Jalgoan-Jamod 473 5.00 9.50 90%
Amravathi Daryapur 1290 4.91 7.50 45%
Anjangaon-
surji
713 6.00 8.75 23%
Total 10338
Project
Average
5.29 8.06 52%

21. 21
PPP in Maharashtra
Visit of Dr Sudhir Goel Principal Secy (Agri) Maharashtra

22. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR)
• Rationale:
 5000 liters of water, a scarce resource, needed to produce
1 kg of Rice.
 In India 66% of total available irrigation water used for
rice cultivation.
 Reduction of green house gases.
 Improved fertilizer efficiency.
 Amenability to mechanization.
 Reduction in cost of transplantation.
22

23. Direct Seeded Rice Contd…
• Situation in India
 Some companies are promoting Direct seeded rice in
Punjab with large scale trials ( Eg: PEPSICO approx 10,000
acres).
 In the Godavari delta of Andhra Pradesh ,several farmers
are adopting DSR technology ,primarily to counter the
labor shortage
• Main Problem for large scale adoption
 Farmers are flooding rice fields mainly to restrict weeds
 The main problem in DSR is weed control, currently famers
are using pre emergence herbicides with limited success. 23

24. DSR Experiment Stage 1

25. DSR Experiment Stage 2

26. DSR Experiment Stage 3

27. Mechanization: Cotton Picking
27

28. Cotton Picking Mechanization
Need :
 Labor availability becoming an issue
 Cost of manual picking is becoming prohibitive
 Increasing productivity will further enhance these
problems.
 @ of Rs. 8/kg - total outflow on picking is Rs.
14,000 crores.
 Without mechanization cotton cultivation may
not remain feasible in a few years.
 Opportunity to reduce contamination as well.
28

29. Cotton Picking Mechanization
Requirements:
 Right Genotype for high density /
mechanized cotton farming
 Developing suitable size machinery for
small holdings for total farming from
sowing to picking
 Investments in pre-cleaners in Gins
 Shift in marketing practices.
 Farmer education – Preparedness thru
extension 29

30. Policy Support from Government

31. Product Development
• Procedure for quick release of new hybrids and
varieties- The procedure needs to be shortened
to a time period of 2 years for the release of new
hybrids & varieties.
• Cost of regulatory testing should be nominal
• Reduce restrictions on number of entries
• Rationalize testing Products between Centre
(ICAR) and States (SAUs)
• Clear, uniform and consistent parameters for
identification of varieties for notification
31

32. • Price controls
 Price controls may reduce investments in R&D
• Fiscal incentives:
 Tax Exemptions
 Credit on soft terms for R&D investment
 Duty free imports of equipment for Industry
 Infrastructure building through nationwide
mission mode approach like TUFS etc.
32
Price Controls and Incentives

33. Subsidy
 Uniformity across the States in Policy and
procedures
 Provide Level play field for Private Sector as
given to public sector
 Give equal access to all popular products with
or without notification.
33

34. Ideal Subsidy program
• Karnataka/ AP model
 Opportunity given to all seed companies with
valid registration
 Farmers get complete choice
 No issues in quality /performance so far
34

35. Conclusion
• Accelerated agricultural growth possible
through-
 Genetic improvement for yield enhancement
including GM
 Appropriate agronomic practices
 Efficient Extension Services
 Enabling Government Policies
 Farm mechanization
 Uniform subsidy policy
35

36. THANK YOU