Govt moots idea of a national seed reserve

The government is mooting the idea of setting up a national seed reserve to help farmers tide over problems during a crisis, a senior official said on Friday.

"We are looking at a National Seed Reserve", T Nandkumar, agriculture secretary, Union government, told reporters on the sidelines of the Indian Seed Congress which began in Bengaluru on Friday.

As of now there is no seed shortage.

"The seed reserve is being created to tackle situation or crisis if they arise in future", he said, adding, "Of course there is a cost to it and cost can be picked up by the government.

"Right now it is in the concept stage and it would take a year to develop it.It will ensure farmers income and food security", he said, adding such a reserve could be set up in partnership with various agencies including private sector.

Speaking on rabi crop, he said it is almost at the same level as last year and has reduced the deficit that would have occurred otherwise due to drought. About measures for future kharif, he said, "We are looking at kharif in terms of two options, one is normal and other some surplus rain. We are doing plus five minus five rain situation".

On food reserves, he said, "There is enough food reserves in the country, there is absolutely no worry".

On consumers paying more for food, he said the cost of intermediaries and stock piling by retailers was an issue that had to be addressed by the state governments.