New Delhi, 01 Dec 2024, Nirmesh Singh
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, virtually addressed the 13th National Seed Congress in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, last week. In his speech, he underscored agriculture’s vital role in India’s economy, emphasizing the importance of quality seeds in boosting production and ensuring food security.

Chouhan assured that the Indian government is dedicated to supporting farmers through various initiatives aimed at increasing agricultural output, lowering production costs, ensuring fair pricing, providing compensation for losses, and promoting agricultural diversification. He also highlighted the newly approved National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), which seeks to address the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

The Union Minister also stressed the need for scientific advancements to translate into practical solutions for farmers. He cited the recent release of 109 climate-resilient and water-efficient seed varieties by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Chouhan pointed out that timely access to high-quality seeds at affordable prices is crucial to farmer success, and emphasized that good quality seeds can increase production by up to 20%. He also called for the preservation of India’s rich traditional seed varieties, noting that the country has over 3,000 types of traditional rice.

Dinesh Pratap Singh, Minister of State in Uttar Pradesh Government for horticulture, agriculture marketing, agriculture foreign trade, and agriculture export, remarked that the deliberations and recommendations from the Congress will serve as a blueprint for strengthening the seed systems in Uttar Pradesh and turning the state into a hub for high-quality seed production.

He pointed out that Uttar Pradesh’s diverse agro-climatic conditions, extensive agricultural base, and dedicated farming community offer a strong foundation for the state to empower farmers with better access to improved seeds, including hybrids, biofortified crops, and vegetable varieties, which will enhance productivity and profitability.

The three-day Congress, held at the shared campus of the IRRI South Asia Regional Centre and National Seed Research and Training Centre (NSRTC), Varanasi, was attended by over 700 participants from India and abroad. The theme of the event was “Innovating for a Sustainable Seed Ecosystem.”

Singh also expressed optimism over the discussions surrounding seed parks, public-private partnerships, and the empowerment of farmers as seed entrepreneurs, noting that the outcomes of these discussions will be fully supported by the state government to achieve food security, economic growth, and farmer welfare.

Key figures, including Dr. Yvonne Pinto, Director-General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Dr. KV Raju, Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister, and Dr. Panjab Singh, Chancellor of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, and former Director-General of ICAR, also participated in the event.
________________________________________________________________________________