The two-day National Seminar on ‘Regulations and Governance issues in Indian Seed Sector’ began in New Delhi today. Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Dr. Himanshu Pathak said, there are more than 2,200 varieties of different crops, and more than 1,800 are climate-resilient varieties, and 150 are bio-fortified. Highlighting the problem of Traceability of seeds, Mr. Pathak said, seed sector must be vibrant and that the fruit of this sector should reach everyone. He said, the government has started the seed traceability mechanism to trace the seeds. 

Director of South Asia International Food Policy Research Institute, Dr. Shahidur Rashid said that the initiative of ‘Seed Equal’ by CGIAR Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers is important. He said, this initiative aims to support the delivery of seeds of improved, climate-resilient, market-preferred and nutritious varieties of priority crops.