Indian Seed industry calls for tax incentives, uniformity of rules across states

The Indian Seed Industry, fifth largest in the world, has urged the Government to facilitate an enabling environment including providing tax incentives and ensuring regulated operative mechanisms of rules so that all states follow uniform policies. On the eve of the 4th Indian Seed Congress, industry leaders said much like the IT revolution, Indian agriculture too required robust support from the government to bring evergreen revolution in the country.

The Seed Congress shall be inaugurated on Friday by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.  The industry leaders urged the Government to enable increased investments in R&D in the agricultural sector and also called for tax incentives.

President, Chairman ISC-2013, Dr KV Subba Rao, said, “Uniform operating mechanism which will ensure uniformity of policy and rules across different states are the key to Indian agricultural sector growth. We are a dynamic, innovative, internationally competitive, research-based industry producing high performance, high quality seeds and planting materials which benefit farmers and significantly contribute to the sustainable growth of Indian agriculture, thereby empowering millions of farmers.”
Executive Director, National Seeds Association of India (NSAI), Raju Kapoor, representing close to 300 seed companies of India, reiterated the major industry challenges including policy framework, availability/exchange of germplasm, non-uniform policy of hybrid registration in various states, limited financial benefits to seed industry, depleting productivity, labor availability and indifference of the youth towards farming.

The industry’s voice assumes significance in light of the government’s impending National Food Security Mission Bill that promises availability of food to 75% of rural population and wider technology assimilation in Indian agriculture. The seed industry is focused on collaborating with the government for the creation of a globally competitive seed industry.

Director NSAI, Dr N K Dadlani, said, “The Indian Seed Congress 2013 focuses on the theme ‘Seeds of Change – Ensuring the evergreen revolution’. The Seed is an important element to enhance crop productivity and coupled with best crop management practices it enables growth in farm income. The Industry is sowing the seeds of change-making use of optimal resources land, water, soil, variable climatic zones in India and steering on inclusive growth- evergreen revolution covering all states including the green eastern zone.”

According to Arvind Kapur, Co-Chairman-ISC, “The first green revolution was largely confined to the Northern states of Punjab and Haryana. We need to extend this to the rest of the country, particularly the highly fertile riverine plains of Eastern India.” He added, “The Indian seed industry is one of the most significant players in fueling the growth of the Indian agricultural sector. Their contribution extends through both direct and indirect contributions.”

The Green Revolution story, India’s much vaunted emergence from being a recipient of food aid to a net grain exporter is decades old. The challenges of the new millennium are different, and with a population of 1.25 billion and growing, India’s currently comfortable position of food stocks cannot be taken for granted.
The two day Congress, shall be held at Hotel LeelaKempinski, Ambience Island, Gurgaon (Delhi NCR) on February 8 – 9. A congregation of representatives from seed and allied industry, policy makers, developmental agencies, scientific community, farmers’ organizations and industry leaders from more than 15 countries are expected to attend the event, informed Rajvir Rathi, Convenor of the Indian Seed Congress.

The 4th edition of this event is expected to raise and address many of the emerging concerns of the industry that need immediate attention. This event is therefore being watched with considerable interest by governments, farmer associations, industry and media across the world.