India's Seed Sector Sees Boost as 13th National Seed Congress Kicks Off
Varanasi, India (November 28, 2024) - The 13th National Seed Congress (NSC) 2024, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, was inaugurated today via virtual address from Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The three-day event is being held at the International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC), Varanasi, bringing together over 700 delegates from various sectors.
The Congress focuses on innovation, collaboration, and actionable strategies to enhance the Indian and global seed sectors. Key themes include strengthening public-private partnerships, leveraging biodiversity and technology for food security and climate resilience, and promoting accessibility and affordability of quality seeds.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, delivering the keynote address, emphasized India's leadership in the seed sector, while also highlighting the country's potential to make significant strides in global seed markets. Other dignitaries who attended the inauguration ceremony included Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Secretary DA&FW Devesh Chaturvedi, IRRI Director General Yvonne Pinto, and ISARC Director Sudhanshu Singh.
During the Congress, a range of sessions were conducted on key themes. These included plenary sessions on India's role in the global seed sector, fostering south-south collaboration, and strengthening public-private partnerships. Side events and technical sessions focused on innovative strategies for Eastern India, emerging seed technologies, quality assurance, and regulatory standards.
Uttar Pradesh played a significant focus area for discussions at the event. The state's Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi highlighted the state's significant agricultural contributions, including plans to establish 200 seed parks and focus on oilseed and millet cultivation.
The Congress also saw the launch of innovative initiatives such as the abstract compendium, Rice Fallow Webpage & Atlas for Eastern India states. These initiatives aim to utilize geospatial technology to optimize crop planning and improve food security in the region.
The three-day event is expected to facilitate collaboration among stakeholders, including government agencies, private enterprises, farmers, and researchers. As such, it will provide critical platforms for discussing policies, strategies, and innovations aimed at enhancing India's seed sector while ensuring food security and climate resilience.
By strengthening public-private partnerships, leveraging biodiversity and technology, promoting accessibility affordability of quality seeds and initiating initiatives such as 200 seed parks the event is set to boost India's seed sector and enhance its growth potential in global markets.