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Mumbai, Nov 17 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday stressed the need to create seed varieties suitable for natural farming, as the government pledged to bring 25 lakh hectares of land in the state under natural farming in the next two to three years.
He said that to achieve this, the need of the hour is for the seed producing companies to produce seeds suitable for natural farming.
He expressed confidence that if seed producing companies come up with innovative ideas, we can move towards sustainability.
He was speaking after the inauguration of the Asian Seed Conference-2025.
Saying that climate change is having a serious impact on agriculture, the Chief Minister said the need for resilient, climate-resistant varieties has now increased.
CM Fadnavis said, for sustainable agriculture it is necessary to reduce the use of chemical inputs and move towards improved seeds.
He said that India’s seed market is one of the fastest growing markets in the world.
“Today it has reached about $7.8 billion and is projected to reach about $19 billion by 2030. India ranks fifth in the world after the US, China, France and Brazil and since more than 95 per cent of seeds used in India are produced domestically, this industry is directly contributing to ‘Make in India’.”
He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of doubling the income of the farmers of the country and the state.
CM Fadnavis said that the state government is taking important steps to increase transparency in the seed industry.
“Several corrective measures are being implemented such as mandatory certification, digital traceability, systematic registration and strict penal provisions to check counterfeit seeds. Use of blockchain technology in seed supply management will be essential,” he said.
Referring to the state’s agriculture policies, the Chief Minister said Maharashtra has formulated the country’s first ‘Maha Krishi AI Policy’ and developed an AI-based agriculture scheme with an initial funding of Rs 500 crore.
“We have a huge agricultural database available to us through digital platforms like Agri Stack, Mahavedha and CropSap. Using this data, agriculture can become more scientific, predictive and productive,” he said.
Noting that Padmashree Rahibai Popere had preserved indigenous varieties and indigenous seeds in Maharashtra, he said that our common goal is to increase the income of farmers and make agriculture more sustainable.
He said that the future of agriculture will be secure only when the state government and the seed industry work together.
Emphasizing on the confluence of clean plantation programme, conservation of indigenous varieties and modern technology, the Chief Minister appealed to the seed industry across the country to partner with the state government.
Meanwhile, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said in his speech that a new Seed Act will be brought in the upcoming budget session to control the sale of substandard and unauthorized seeds.
He said that three clean planting centers are being set up in Maharashtra to provide quality planting material for horticultural crops.
Expressing the need to provide quality seeds at affordable prices to the farmers, Minister Shri Chouhan appealed to the seed industry to consider the interests of the farmers.
Stating that the contribution of private sector in pulses and oilseeds production is low, dependence on imports has increased, he also said that seed companies should actively participate in this sector.
He also said that it will be mandatory for all seed companies to have 100 per cent registration on the ‘SAATHI’ portal, which has been created to make the production and distribution chain of seeds transparent.
Stating that there is a need to focus on developing varieties that are resilient to rising temperatures and changing climatic conditions, Minister Chouhan said that the government and the private sector should come together and take concrete action for the benefit of farmers.
He also said that the seed industry is not only a profit making industry but also the basis of food security of the country and the world.
–IANS
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