13th National Seed Congress (NSC) 2024 (GS Paper 3, Agriculture)
Context:
- The 13th edition of the National Seed Congress (NSC) was recently held, drawing participation from scientists, policymakers, industry representatives, and agricultural experts.
- This event serves as a major platform for discussing advancements in agriculture, with a particular focus on enhancing the seed sector in India and across the globe.
Theme:
- The theme of the 2024 NSC was Innovating for a Sustainable Seed Ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of innovative solutions in seed production and distribution.
Key Highlights:
- A central topic at the congress was advancing innovative seed technologies to benefit farmers across India.
- Promoting South-South Collaboration in the seed sector was another focus, aiming to enhance knowledge and resource sharing between developing countries.
- Discussion topics included hybrid crops, biofortified crops, stress-tolerant varieties, and accelerated breeding cycles for crops that can withstand climate challenges.
- Public-private partnerships (PPPs) were underscored as crucial to ensuring sustainable seed production and distribution.
- The deliberations aimed to promote food security, economic growth, and the welfare of farmers, with substantial support from state governments.
Hybrid Crops:
- Hybrid crops are developed by crossbreeding two genetically distinct plants, often from different species or varieties.
- The goal is to combine desirable traits from both parents, such as higher yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance, and improved nutritional content.
Key Concern:
- One challenge of hybrid crops is that they do not produce seeds that retain the same beneficial traits as the parent plants, requiring farmers to purchase new seeds each season.
Biofortified Crops:
- Biofortified crops are specially bred to have higher levels of essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
- This can be achieved through traditional breeding methods, genetic modification, or advanced biotechnological techniques.
- The aim is to improve the nutritional value of crops, especially in regions with widespread nutrient deficiencies.
- An example is Golden Rice, which has been genetically modified to produce higher levels of provitamin A (beta-carotene), helping combat vitamin A deficiency.
Key Differences between Hybrid and Biofortified Crops:
- Hybrid Crops: Focus on enhancing traits like yield, resilience, and growth characteristics by crossbreeding genetically distinct varieties.
- Biofortified Crops: Focus on increasing the nutritional content of crops to address micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations.
Advantages of Biofortification:
- It is viewed as the most sustainable solution to combat malnutrition.
- The nutrients in biofortified crops are present in their natural form, unlike fortified foods that require additional processing.
- Cost-effectiveness: Biofortified crops are affordable for farmers because they do not require extra expenditures on infrastructure or food enrichment processes.
- Biofortified varieties are as high-yielding as traditional varieties, ensuring no loss in crop productivity for farmers.
- Unlike food fortification methods, biofortified crops do not require elaborate infrastructure, making them easier to distribute and implement.
Government Initiatives Supporting Sustainable Seed Production:
Several government schemes are in place to support the production and distribution of high-quality seeds and to enhance agricultural sustainability:
- National Seed Policy (2002): This policy encourages both private and public sector involvement in seed production, focusing on quality control, distribution, and increased seed production to boost crop yields.
- National Gene Bank: A vital initiative to conserve the genetic diversity of crops and preserve traditional and indigenous varieties for future generations, ensuring resilience against changing environmental conditions.
- State Seed Banks: These banks support local farmers by conserving native seed varieties and enabling seed exchange programs to increase local agricultural biodiversity.
- National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Aims to increase the production of staple crops like rice, wheat, and pulses by promoting the use of high-quality seeds.
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): A key initiative that encourages the use of climate-resilient seeds in water-scarce regions, helping farmers cope with water shortages.
- National Mission on Organic Farming (NMOF): Supports organic seed production, provides subsidies for organic inputs, and promotes seed-saving techniques to improve organic farming practices.
- Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs): FPOs play a crucial role in local seed production, enhancing farmer participation in the seed system, and promoting seed diversity across farming communities.
Conclusion:
- The 13th National Seed Congress has highlighted the importance of innovative seed technologies, collaboration, and government initiatives to ensure food security, improve farmers’ livelihoods, and enhance agricultural productivity.
- The support of hybrid and biofortified crops, along with strategic government schemes, plays a crucial role in shaping a sustainable seed ecosystem that can tackle the challenges of modern farming.
