Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday asked state-owned National Seeds Corporation (NSC) to prepare a roadmap to increase its share to 25% from the current level of 4% in the domestic seed market. He assured farmers that the government would further strengthen NSC to reduce the influence of private sector seed companies, for maintaining price stability in the seed market.
“Ensuring the availability of quality seeds is highly critical, and the NSC can play a crucial role in this regard. The government is taking strict action on the fake seed issue,” Chouhan said after inaugurating five seed processing plants located at Bareilly, Dharwad, Hassan, Suratgarh and Raichur.
The agriculture minister said that private companies have their contribution, but public corporations have their own importance, there is a need to further improve performances of state seed corporations. “Prepare a target, accordingly make a roadmap on how to achieve it by identifying the challenges,” Chouhan noted while urging NSC to expand its presence to all districts of the country from current 550 and suggested priority should be given to the 100 aspirational districts, covered under the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY).
Chouhan also launched the ‘Seed Management 2.0’ system and an online seed booking platform for farmers.
Through this platform, farmers will now be able to book their seed requirements online, ensuring greater transparency and accessibility. He noted that it is crucial for quality seeds to reach small and marginal farmers.
“With prospects of robust sales and increase in online businesses, the NSC is aiming to increase its sales turnover by 33% on year to over Rs 1,600 crore in FY26”, a senior official had said. NSC, which functions under the agriculture ministry, is aiming to increase sales of millets, pulses, oilseeds, wheat and fodder seeds in FY26.
The production of seeds NSC during FY25 has increased to more than 2.2 million quintals from 1.7 million quintal, which will be sold this year and will enhance sales value. Annually, NSC produces over 100,007 tonnes of certified, high-quality seeds, covering 300 crop varieties. According to industry estimates, the corporation contributes about 48% of the total certified seeds produced in the country, while the rest is produced by the private sectors.
