Date:23/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122354110400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

UAS-led seed supply corporates mooted

Special Correspondent

Vice-Chancellors should head them: S.A. Patil

Rs. 100-crore allocation for each of them suggested
‘Members should be from industries concerned’

BANGALORE: Director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute S.A. Patil, who is also Chairman of the Karnataka Krishi Mission, on Monday suggested setting up university-level corporate bodies with an allocation of Rs. 100 crore each for ensuring availability of seeds to farmers.

He said such a measure would go a long way in tackling the problem of seeds being unavailable during the sowing season.

Participating in the inaugural session of the two-day National Seed Congress organised by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, and the National Seed Research and Training Centre, Dr. Patil said the corporate bodies, headed by vice-chancellors, should comprise members from all the industries concerned.

These bodies should not only conduct research on hybrid and new seed varieties but also produce good-quality seeds and ensure their availability to farmers at the right time at an affordable cost. These corporate bodies should have the freedom to have tie-ups with various organisations from the village level to the international level to source seed material and reproduce them for supplying to farmers, he said.

The tendency among plant breeders within government and research organisations to promote their own seed varieties at the cost of other varieties was also coming in the way of producing and supplying good-quality seeds to farmers, he said.

Supply chain

UAS Vice-Chancellor P.G. Chengappa expressed concern over the lack of an organised seed supply chain. There was a monopoly because there were only a few dominant players, and they were getting bigger.

He called for building partnerships among various public institutions producing seeds, especially for food crops where the private sector’s role was insignificant. Such a partnership would help ensure proper coordination, planning and the filling of gaps in the supply chain. The UAS had decided to increase its seed production from the current 35,000 quintals to 40,000 quintals next year, the Vice-Chancellor said.

Agricultural scientist Mahadevappa, National Seed Research and Training Centre Director M. Bhaskaran, Secretary to the Agriculture Department E. Venkataiah and UAS Research Director B.V. Patil spoke.