GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4158
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 28TH MARCH, 2017
PRICES OF SEEDS
4158. SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that farmers have to buy seeds at high prices in the country and if so, the facts thereof;
(b) whether the prices of seeds have sky rocketed in the recent years;
(c) if so, the details of the percentage in price rise of seeds during the last one decade;
(d) the details of the expected turnover of seeds trade during the year 2016-17; and
(e) the various steps taken by the Government to control the price of seeds and provide quality seeds to the farmers at affordable price in the country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)
(a) to (e): About 60% of the seeds being utilized by farmers in India for sowing purpose are farm saved seeds. Under Indian Law, farmers are free to re-use and even sell farms saved seeds. The Public Sector Seeds Corporations at the Central and State level also help to control the price of seeds through their operations and reports of high prices are confined to certain types of hybrid seeds only. Price of seeds are left to market forces in India but in exceptional cases, such as monopoly, unfair trade practices etc., as in the case of Bt. Cotton; under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 Government of India has notified the maximum sale price of Bt. Cotton hybrids for BG-I & BG-II at the rate of Rs.650/- (trait value Nil) and Rs.800/- (with trait value Rs.49) per packet of 450 grams under the Cotton Seeds Price Order 2015 under Section (3) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
The expected turnover of seeds trade in India is Rs.18,000/- crore during the year 2016-17 as per estimates furnished by the National Seeds Association of India (NSAI).
Further, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare provides financial assistance to the farmers under various schemes such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM); Sub-Mission on Seeds & Planting Material (SMSP)-National Mission on Agriculture Extension & Technology (NMAET); National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) and other Central Sector/Centrally sponsored Schemes to provide seeds at affordable prices to farmers.