In the context of food and nutritional security of India, enhancing the ‘Seed Replacement Rates’ of various crops helps in achieving the food production targets of the future. But what is/are the constraint/constraints in its wider/greater implementation?

1. There is no National Seeds Policy in place.
2. There is no participation of private sector seed companies in the supply of quality seeds of vegetables and planting materials of horticultural crops.
3. There is a demand­supply gap regarding quality seeds in case of low value and high volume crops.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3

(d) None

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

• There exists a National Seed Policy 2002.
• Although private sector seed companies supply quality vegetable seeds, they do so in limited quantities, and the majority of hybrid vegetable seeds are provided by the public sector.
• On the other hand, there is a significant demand-supply gap for high-volume, low-value crops such as wheat and rice regarding seed quality.
• Consequently, farmers often resort to using their own preserved seeds instead.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.