NEW DELHI (Commodity Online): Emphasizing on the public-private partnership model for quality production, Prof. KV Thomas, Minister of State for Agriculture Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution today mentioned that there is a need to work towards providing Indian farmer with good healthy seeds and planting material, so that he could grow quality horticultural produce and fulfill the much needed nutritional security.

Addressing a National Conference on Production of Quality Seeds and Planting Material - Health Management in Horticultural Crops here Prof. Thomas recognized the potential of seed trade and mentioned that in the backdrop of growth of seed industries, development of new technologies and recognition of many Indian cultivators abroad, there is a great opportunity for seed trade both in India and abroad.

He said that Government has recognized the importance of quality seed and planting material and provided focused attention both for financial support for seed production, quality regulation and enabling policies. New Seed Bill-2004 approved recently also covers all the horticultural crops for regulation of seeds and planting material, Prof. Thomas added.

Referring to appreciable growth of horticulture in last two decades, Prof. Thomas said, ‘The planned investment in horticulture has been rewarding, and it has emerged as the best option for the effective land use, employment generation and enhanced farm profitability. Scientists have developed more than 1500 cultivars of horticultural crops, many of which have been adopted by the farmers.



In potato and many other crops, cultivars developed by the ICAR are grown across the country. Use of improved cultivars and production technologies have resulted in enhanced production, productivity, availability and export of horticultural crops, and this development is referred as Golden Revolution.

But, availability of quality seeds and disease-free planting material continues to be a constraint. Thus, effective use of diagnostic techniques is essentially required.’

The minister said, ‘the planting material produced through micro-propagation is the success story especially in banana, which has enhanced the production and productivity many fold. Similarly, production of mini tuber in potato has ensured the quality production of seeds in potato. True potato seed (TPS) required intensive research to popularize.’

Talking about diagnostics for banana, citrus and potato developed by the ICAR research institutes for rapid and accurate method of detection of viruses and other pathogens, the Minister desired development and standardization of similar detection techniques for other vegetative propagated plants.

Expressing satisfaction over the involvement of many private sector companies in vegetable seed production, especially of hybrids, Prof. Thomas informed, ‘nurseries to produce seedling of vegetables, particularly high value crops have also been established by a large number of small entrepreneurs, which produce millions of healthy seedlings of popular varieties in portrays under net tunnels.

The Minister stated that despite various challenges, Indian agriculture, which provides livelihood to 600 million people, has made rapid strides. He further said, efforts made by the Government have brought about a significant enhancement in investment for agriculture through new initiatives like National Horticulture Mission, National Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna.

Prof. Thomas said, ‘initiative of the Government to provide seeds and inputs in a timely manner has paved the way for all time record harvest of wheat. In this context, Indian Council of Agricultural Research has played a key role in technology generation, development of seeds and production of breeder seeds and nucleus planting material.’

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