The Future Of Indian Agriculture -Role of Indian Seed Industry- M. Prabhakar Rao Nuziveedu Seeds Limited

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1 The Future Of Indian Agriculture -Role of Indian Seed Industry- M. Prabhakar Rao Nuziveedu Seeds Limited 1

2 Evolution of Indian Agriculture 2

3 Evolution over 40 years Food Grain Production Million Tons Oil seed Production In Million Tons Cotton Production in Million Bales Cotton Bale-170 kg (Source- Dept. Of Ag. GOI) 3

4 Productivity of Major Field Crops Productivity kg/ha * ** Crops Productivity Productivity Growth % Cotton Paddy Maize Wheat Pulses Oilseeds To even out the effect of extreme weather variations * data is avg. of six preceding years to ** data is avg. of six preceding years to

5 But this growth not adequate 227 Food Grain 1.3X Food Demand likely to go up from~ 450 MMT to 780 MMT in 2020 Milk Vegetable & Fruits Meat /Fish/egg X 2.6X 2.8X Source: Estimate of Food Demand Working Paper No. 209, ICRIER; NSSO Interviews 5

6 CHALLENGES & WAY FORWARD 6

7 The key challenges Productivity gaps Technological interventions Challenges Govt. Policies & Regulation Labour shortage 7

8 Productivity gaps Rice Wheat Cotton Sugarcane Egypt India UK India China India Australia India Crop Yield (t/ha) highest vs. India 8

9 Potential to increase production Agricultural Production Area (Limited) Seeds Nutrition (Limited) R&D and Technologies to constantly improve seeds Productivity Irrigation (Limited) Agronomic practices New practices to match the genotype, extension and training 9

10 Keys to break Productivity barriers Superior Planting Material Agronomic Innovations (improved practices) Extension services 10

11 Superior Planting Material Genetic enhancement for productivity Tolerance to biotic & abiotic stress through- Superior germplasm Introgression of GM or Non-GM traits Use of molecular markers to expedite 11

12 Agronomic Innovations Right Products Right Agronomy High Yield Some Examples - High density planting in Cotton/Maize Direct Seeded Rice 12

13 High density planting : cotton Current seed rates of cotton at 1.61 pkts/ acre, translates to 7200 plants per acre An increase in plant population results in direct increase in yield, with right agronomy 50% increase means additional revenue of Rs.35k crores, net income of Rs.25k crores Changing habits would require enormous amount of education and needs industry push and government support. 13

14 Reaching Farmers through Extension The need today is to intensify Extension education by: Extension Workers Product development/ Marketing Teams Public Private Public-Private Partnerships ( PPP) Government encourages PPP s and issued guidelines under RKVY 14

15 Case: High density planting + PPP Vidharbha Objective: To Increase the Productivity and Production of Cotton farmers by 50% in the Project. Main Concept:- High Density Population Formations of Effective Farmer SHGs Use of Plant Growth Regulator. Use of Integrated Nutrient Mgmt Use of Integrated Pest Mgmt. Post Harvest Management. 15

16 Areas of Interventions Particulars Plant Population Micro nutrients Plant Growth Regulators Expert Assistance Market linkage Traditional Methods Traditional spacing Rare Not Applied scientifically Not Available Not Available Under Public Private Project High Density closing spacing Applied based on soil testing Applied scientifically Timely Advice available Available 16

17 Spacing and Plant Population District Taluka Traditional spacing (Ft) Plant Density per acre Spacing under PPP(Ft) Plant Density per acre under PPP % increase of Plants Popl. Akola Akot 3* * % Telhara 3* * % Amaravati Daryapur 3* * % Anjangaon surji 3* * % Buldhana Sangrampur 4* * % Jalgoan Jamod 3* * % The above data is based on averages. The actual spacing / density has been adopted farmer-wise based on the soil type and Water Availability. 17

18 PPP- Activities Done Soil sample Testing of 1652 farmers and recommended use of fertilizer dosage accordingly. Distribution of Seed Packets -20,676 packets Regular Visit of Technical team to Guide the Farmer. Conducted Training Programs in Three stages. Supply of Micronutrients to Farmers tonnes Supply of Growth Regulators- 3800ltrs. Distribution Liquid nutrients for Foliar spray of 12MT. 18

19 Other Activities Done 93 Registered Farmer Groups were formed. Voice Mail to all the Farmers regarding Time specific activities for the Crop Procurement of Kapas at Market Price at our Ginning and Pressing mill at Hiwarkhed. Ginning of Kapas of Farmers at our Ginning and Pressing mill. Facilitating Storage of Bales of Farmers. Arrangements with Banks HDFC bank, Yes bank and ICICI bank for Warehouse receipt based funding for cotton bales of Farmers. 19

20 PPP Project: Expected Yields District Taluka No. of Acres Last year Avg.Yd(Qtls) Present Avg.Yd(Qtls) % Increase Akola Akot % Telhara % Buldhana Sangrampur % Jalgoan-Jamod % Amravathi Daryapur % Anjangaonsurji Total Project Average % % 20

21 PPP in Maharashtra Visit of Dr Sudhir Goel Principal Secy (Agri) Maharashtra 21

22 Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) Rationale: 5000 liters of water, a scarce resource, needed to produce 1 kg of Rice. In India 66% of total available irrigation water used for rice cultivation. Reduction of green house gases. Improved fertilizer efficiency. Amenability to mechanization. Reduction in cost of transplantation. 22

23 Direct Seeded Rice Contd Situation in India Some companies are promoting Direct seeded rice in Punjab with large scale trials ( Eg: PEPSICO approx 10,000 acres). In the Godavari delta of Andhra Pradesh,several farmers are adopting DSR technology,primarily to counter the labor shortage Main Problem for large scale adoption Farmers are flooding rice fields mainly to restrict weeds The main problem in DSR is weed control, currently famers are using pre emergence herbicides with limited success. 23

24 DSR Experiment Stage 1

25 DSR Experiment Stage 2

26 DSR Experiment Stage 3

27 Mechanization: Cotton Picking 27

28 Cotton Picking Mechanization Need : Labor availability becoming an issue Cost of manual picking is becoming prohibitive Increasing productivity will further enhance these of Rs. 8/kg - total outflow on picking is Rs. 14,000 crores. Without mechanization cotton cultivation may not remain feasible in a few years. Opportunity to reduce contamination as well. 28

29 Cotton Picking Mechanization Requirements: Right Genotype for high density / mechanized cotton farming Developing suitable size machinery for small holdings for total farming from sowing to picking Investments in pre-cleaners in Gins Shift in marketing practices. Farmer education Preparedness thru extension 29

30 Policy Support from Government

31 Product Development Procedure for quick release of new hybrids and varieties- The procedure needs to be shortened to a time period of 2 years for the release of new hybrids & varieties. Cost of regulatory testing should be nominal Reduce restrictions on number of entries Rationalize testing Products between Centre (ICAR) and States (SAUs) Clear, uniform and consistent parameters for identification of varieties for notification 31

32 Price Controls and Incentives Price controls Price controls may reduce investments in R&D Fiscal incentives: Tax Exemptions Credit on soft terms for R&D investment Duty free imports of equipment for Industry Infrastructure building through nationwide mission mode approach like TUFS etc. 32

33 Subsidy Uniformity across the States in Policy and procedures Provide Level play field for Private Sector as given to public sector Give equal access to all popular products with or without notification. 33

34 Ideal Subsidy program Karnataka/ AP model Opportunity given to all seed companies with valid registration Farmers get complete choice No issues in quality /performance so far 34

35 Conclusion Accelerated agricultural growth possible through- Genetic improvement for yield enhancement including GM Appropriate agronomic practices Efficient Extension Services Enabling Government Policies Farm mechanization Uniform subsidy policy 35

36 THANK YOU