Fears of a seed scarcity haunt next Kharif crop

While the government is looking to offset the losses in Kharif production on account of the drought with an increase in productivity levels and area...

While the government is looking to offset the losses in Kharif production on account of the drought with an increase in productivity levels and area in the forthcoming winter crop,it already has the next challenge at hand. A scarcity of seeds for the next Kharif crop is staring it in the face.

Since a substantial area of the kharif crop got destroyed due to deficient rainfall,it has not only wasted the quality seeds used this year but also consumed large amounts of the seeds farmers had saved for the next crop. In addition,a large tract of unsown land means reduced availability of seeds for next years kharif crop, a senior Agriculture Ministry official said.

In fact,this expected scarcity fact has got the Agriculture Ministry s attention even as it chalks out a contingency plan to deal with the current drought situation. The issue came to the fore during the State Agriculture Ministers conference in August where state governments were asked to start preparing for seed requirement,availability and supply plan for Kharif 2010.

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A Seed Requirement,Availability and Supply Plan will be worked out on a realistic basis based on the Contingency Crop Plan and a tie up with National and State seed agencies ensured to fulfill the requirement of seeds, the State Agriculture Ministers meeting decided adding,A similar Seed Plan would be framed for Kharif 2010.

The states were asked by the Centre to project the requirement and availability of seeds for the kharif crop and chalk out a strategy to meet the expected shortfall.

Officials in the Ministry revealed that some states have indeed indicated shortage of seeds for the kharif crop next year. In this context,the issue again came up for discussion in the Agriculture Conference to prepare for Rabid (winter) crop,where the focus was increasing production in rabid to recoup losses of current kharif,at the end of September.

The urgency of the situation can be gauged from the fact that as many as nine states,including UP,Punjab and Haryana had indicated shortages at the beginning of years kharif crop in crops like maize,sunflower,cotton,paddy,pulses and other oilseeds.

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