Background & Objectives of the seminar

1. NATIONAL SEMINAR
Regulations &
Governance Issues in
Indian Seed Sector
Regulations &
Governance Issues
in Indian Seed
Sector
Anjani Kumar
International Food Policy Research Institute
South Asia Regional Office, New Delhi
September 26, 2023
ICAR Lecture Hall,
Second Floor, NASC Complex,
Pusa, New Delhi

2. • Does existing seed policy constrain the adoption of improved varieties?
• If yes
• Are we positioned to influence the seed policy?
• If no
• What are the other strategies for accelerating the adoption of biofortified
crops?
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3. Important policy initiatives in the Indian Seed Market
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Policy (year) Description
Seed industry US$ 6.3 Billion in 2022; expected to reach about US$13 billion by 2023
Seeds Act (1966)
Establishing variety release, seed certification, and testing systems and established state
monopoly over seed production and distribution for important food crops.
National Seeds Project (1977-1991)
Led to the formation of state seed corporations and strengthened the seed system
infrastructure in the country.
Seed Control Order (1983) Regulated seed dealers through dealer licensing.
Industrial Licensing Policy (1987)
De-reserved Indian seed industry permitting private companies to produce and market
seeds.
New Policy on Seed Development (NPSD) (1988)
Permitted import of germplasm for research, import of commercial vegetable seed, and
conditional import of seeds for coarse grains, pulses, and millets.
New Industrial Policy (1991) Permitted foreign direct investment in the seed industry.
The Seeds Bill (2004)- Still pending in parliament
Proposes mandatory registration of all varieties and replaces Seeds Act of 1966 and the
Seed Control Order of 1983.
Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Right Act
(2001)
It provides an effective system for the protection of plant varieties and incentives to
strengthen the seed industry and the availability of high-quality seed for farmers.
Draft Seeds Bill (2019)- Modified/Revised version of The Seeds Bill (2004)

4. Sources of seed and perceptions of farmers about
the quality of seed (%)
Sources of seed Perception of farmers
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0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Local Market Own farm Govt agencies Private
processors
Paddy Wheat
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
Good Satisfactory Poor Don't know
Paddy Wheat

5. Options for seed distribution/seed supply
chain
Established Network of Registered Dealers (ENRD)
Seed corporations
Certified Seed
Corporations'
outlets
Farmer
Registered
Dealers
Farmers
Retailers
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6. Fast Forward Network (FFN)
Research Variety Seed sold as Truthful Labelled (TL) seed
Dealer
Farmer
Retailers
Dealer
Farmers
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7. Farmer to Farmer Channel (FFC)
A variety seed once made available to the farmers
Farmers
Farmer
Farmers
Farmers
Farmers
Farmers
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8. Private Players Channel (PPC)
Seed brought from other states
Local retailers
Farmers
Private Seed Sellers
Farmers
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9. Possible Options…(SWOT Analysis-ENRD)
Strength Weakness
• Government backed and sponsored – has
credibility
• Established network of dealers across the state
• Government monitored
• Established credibility
• Can reach farmers with moderate speed
• Only notified and certified seeds
• Will work only when govt. approves it
• Report of delayed supply of seeds
• If the officer in charge is not convinced about
bio-fortified seeds one may not push the given
variety vigorously.
• Besides seed distribution we need to make our
dealers/retailers aware about the benefits of bio-
fortified seeds.
Opportunity Threat
• Once variety get notified and certified the
network can be very useful
• If govt. approves the network can be used.
• BRBN has infrastructure for quality seed
handling and processing
• Complete dependence on govt. led system is
problematic because of limited infrastructure
and manpower.
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10. Possible Options…(SWOT Analysis-FFN)
Strength Weakness
• Mainly private company / companies led effort –
expected profit will drive companies
• Established network of dealers across the state
• Credibility of brand and the company /
companies
• Can reach farmers with comparatively faster
speed
• Quality of seed is not completely established
• Pushing by retailers mainly for profit
• May not be able to recommend the standard
procedure of cultivation if it is different than
that for standard / typical varieties.
• Banned in Bihar
Opportunity Threat
• A potential variety can be introduced without
loosing time in getting it notified.
• Once variety get notified and certified the variety
can move faster in the seed system.
• If notified and certified, the standard procedure
of cultivation has already been established.
• If seeds does meet the farmers expectations the
credibility of companies and channel players
(dealers / retailer).
• Some not well tested variety may take this route
without waiting for its
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11. Possible Options…(SWOT Analysis-FFC):
Strength Weakness
• Led and run by farmers
• Doesn’t require large network
• Well tested variety is distributed
• Based on traditional barter system
• Can be very effective and faster in small cluster
• Quality of seeds is well established
• Difficult to introduce new and improvised varieties
• Very difficult to spread any variety pan-state in
small time
Opportunity Threat
• Can be used very effectively to reach faster across
the state (as it is being used under the scheme
MMTBVY, SV).
• The usefulness of seed can be tested very fast in
every part of the state faster.
• Farmers take the Centre stage and can serve as
effective extension workers to promote the seeds.
• If the crop fails because of some other factor/s
which is/ are not related to the seed, farmer will
again be very hesitant the variety again.
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12. Possible Options…(SWOT Analysis-PPC)
Strength Weakness
• Has informal but active network
• A cost-efficient system and know their
customers (farmers) very well
• Responds to the needs of farmers very fast
• It is an unauthorized system
• If crop fails no one to take responsibility
Opportunity Threat
• The network can be used, if required. • It can disappear any day
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13. For rapid adoption/scaling up improved (newer)
varieties
• Multipronged strategies
• Integration of supply augmentation and demand creation
• Awareness raising and demand creation
• Enabling environment
• Capacity strengthening of value chain actors
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning
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14. Expectations from the deliberations
• Understanding the adoption behaviors of improved varieties and their
impacts.
• Analyzing the cost of regulations of the seed system.
• How is the existing system hurting or /facilitating the adoption of the newer
varieties?
• Whether the subsidy is hurting or facilitating adoption of newer varieties?
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15. Windows for seed policy reforms
• How can we contribute to Draft Seeds Bill 2019?
• Can we draft state specific seed policies?
• Can we contribute to seed regulations and governance mechanisms ?
• Can we contribute to accelerate investment in seed science research and
development especially by the private sector?
• Can we encourage public-private partnership in the Indian seed sector?
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16. Thank You !
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