STOCK POSITION OF CERTIFIED/QUALITY SEEDS FOR KHARIF CROPS COMFORTABLE

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The stock position of certified/quality seeds for various Kharif crops in the country is comfortable. As per the assessment made by the Agriculture Ministry in consultation with the representatives of the State Departments of Agriculture, State Seeds Corporations, National Seeds Corporation (NSC), State Farms Corporation of India (SFCI), State Seed Certification Agencies and the representatives of the Seed Association of India, the certified/quality seed availability for Kharif-2003 is 60.69 lakh quintals against the requirement of 44.52 lakh quintals.

The requirement and availability of certified/quality seeds for Kharif-2003 was assessed in the Zonal Seed Review meeting held in February this year as under;-

(Quantity in quintals)

S.No.	Crop	Requirement	Availability	Shortage/Excess
1.	Paddy	18,72,089	23,56,483	+4,84,394
2.	Jowar	1,79,465	2,60,657	+ 81,192
3.	Bajra	1,77,518	2,49,005	+ 71,487
4.	Maize	2,41,555	8,74,406	+6,32,851
5.	Ragi	22,700	25,485	+ 2,785
6.	Arhar	79,684	77,842	- 1,842
7.	Moong	72, 119	78,193	+ 6,074
8.	Blackgram (Urd)	96,959	1,32,418	+ 35,459
9.	Groundnut	6,76,420	6,24,911	-51,509
10.	Castor	41,000	42,802	+1,802
11.	Sesamum(Til)	9,288	13,076	+ 3,788
12.	Sunflower	28,366	38,416	+10,050
13.	Soyabean	6,74,816	9,50,651	+ 2,75,835
14.	Cotton	2,36,769	3,02,618	+ 65,849
15.	Jute	21,543	21,543	-
16.	Mesta	185	185	-

The shortfall in Groundnut seed has been made up through summer production programme in Gujarat and Karnataka. States facing shortage of Arhar seed have been advised to tie-up with the States/State Seed Corporations having surplus seed.

Production and distribution of quality/certified seeds is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments. The efforts of the State Governments are supplemented by NSC and SFCI which produce varieties of national importance. The requirement of certified/quality seeds is assessed by State Government . The Government of India periodically assesses the requirement and availability of seeds through detailed interaction with the State Governments and seed producing agencies during the biannual Zonal Seed Review meetings and the national Kharif and Rabi Conferences.