Role of
Public & Private Seed Industry
The
private sector has started to play a significant role in the seed industry over
the last few years. At present, the number of companies engaged in seed
production or seed trade is of the order of 400 or 500. However, the main
focus of private seed companies has been on the high value low volume seeds and
market for low value high volume seeds seeds of cereals, pulses and oilseeds is
still dominated by the public sector seed corporations. Private sector
companies have a significant place mainly in the case of maize and sunflower
and cotton. However, in the case of vegetable seeds and planting
materials of horticultural crops, the private sector is the dominant
player. As the private sector has not been enthusiastic about entering into
seed production of high volume low margin crops of wheat, paddy, other cereals,
oilseeds and pulses, the public sector seed corporations will continue to
remain dominant in cereals, pulses and oilseeds for many more years to
come. At present 15 State Seeds Corporation
and 2 National level seeds Corporations
(National
Seeds Corporation of India & State Farms Corporation of India) are
functioning in the country. Besides, significant quantities of seeds are also
produced by the State Departments of Agriculture, where the State Seeds
corporations are not in existence. The contribution of private sector seed
companies in total seed production of the country is depicted in the following
table:
Year of Production
|
Total Seed Production
(Lakh qtls.) |
Share of private sector
|
2003-04
|
132.27
|
47.48%
|
2004-05
|
140.51
|
45.02%
|
2005-06
|
148.18
|
46.80%
|
2006-07
|
194.31
|
41.00%
|
(
Source : compiled by Seeds Division of DAC)
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