Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the Asian Seed Congress 2025 in Mumbai on Monday, marking the formal opening of one of the seed sector’s most significant annual gatherings. The event also saw the unveiling of the event’s logo. This year’s theme is “Sowing the Seeds of Prosperity through Quality Seeds.”
In his inaugural address, Chouhan said that the government’s foremost priorities are ensuring national food security, providing nutritious food, and making agriculture a profitable venture for farmers. Emphasizing the importance of productivity and affordability, he said the Centre is working to increase per-hectare yield, provide high-quality seeds, and reduce production costs for farmers.
The Minister highlighted ongoing efforts by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and state institutions to develop bio-fortified and climate-resilient crop varieties as part of the wider fight against malnutrition and climate-linked challenges. He underlined the critical role of the private sector in developing high-quality seeds but urged companies to make them more affordable, noting that many farmers cannot bear the high costs.
Chouhan said the availability of seeds that do not need to be replaced every year would greatly ease farmers’ financial burden. He also cautioned seed companies against supplying poor-quality seeds with low germination rates and called for strict action against those involved in illegal practices.
Appealing to stakeholders, he urged widespread use of the SATHI Portal launched by the Agriculture Ministry, describing it as a key tool for improving access to quality seeds and information. He also underscored the need for climate-resilient varieties suited to India’s 15 agro-climatic zones, revealing that two genome-edited rice varieties have been developed that can boost productivity by 19-40%, require less water, and reduce carbon emissions.
Calling for greater investment in research on coarse grains, the Minister asked private companies to engage with the government on issues affecting the sector, including reducing the time and cost involved in bringing new seed varieties to market. He assured industry representatives that the government is willing to collaborate with them to streamline the testing process.
Chouhan also issued a strong warning to those engaged in illegal or unethical seed-related practices, asserting that strict action would be taken against violators.
N. Prabhakar Rao, Chairman of the National Seed Association of India (NSAI), described the Congress as a crucial platform for addressing emerging challenges in the seed sector. Ajay Rana, Chairman of the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), and Take WahKoh, President of the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA), are jointly co-chairing the event.
During the inaugural function, noted biotechnologist and geneticist Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra was honoured for his contributions to the public seed sector.
The Asian Seed Congress 2025, scheduled from November 17 to 21, will feature a series of technical sessions, discussions, and workshops. An Annual General Meeting (AGM) is slated for November 20.