Blueprint for Amritkaal: FSII outlines the future of Indian agriculture through innovation & sustainability

By Ayushi Jain

New Delhi: The Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) hosted a conference titled “Blueprint for Amritkaal: Technology, Enablers & Impact” on September 13, 2024, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

This event convened key stakeholders and experts from the agricultural, seed, and policy sectors to deliberate on driving innovation, technology, and collaboration towards a sustainable future for Indian agriculture, enhancing self-reliance, and creating growth opportunities for the country’s farmers.

The inaugural session kicked off with welcome remarks from Shirish Barwale, Vice Chairman of FSII and Managing Director of Mahyco Pvt Ltd, followed by Ajai Rana, Chairman of FSII and MD & CEO of Savannah Seeds Pvt Ltd, who set the context for the event by emphasizing the importance of a collaborative approach to agricultural growth. He highlighted the essential role of innovation and cooperation in advancing India’s seed industry. “As we explore new production areas like Uttar Pradesh, we aim to position ourselves as a global leader in agriculture,” said Rana. He further emphasized the focus on eco-friendly methods like Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions and generating carbon credits. Rana reiterated FSII’s dedication to policy advocacy, aiming to support farmers for a brighter and more sustainable future.

Surya Pratap Shahi, Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Uttar Pradesh, addressed the audience about the critical role of technology and forward-thinking policies in transforming agriculture in the state. As a key contributor to the country’s wheat production, Uttar Pradesh is planning a dedicated seed park and resource center, which will further boost agricultural prosperity. Minister Shahi invited seed industry leaders to invest in Uttar Pradesh, marking a critical step toward strengthening India’s agricultural self-reliance.

The event witnessed the release of two key publications: a compendium of CSR and ESG initiatives by FSII’s member companies and a knowledge paper titled Propelling India’s Seed Sector to New Heights in Amritkaal. These publications reflect FSII’s commitment to fostering sustainability and technological advancements in agriculture​.

The conference featured Prof. Vijay Paul Sharma, Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), Government of India who underscored the paradigm shift in India’s agricultural policy, moving from a production-focused, subsistence model to one centered on the welfare and incomes of farmers. “We have moved away from a production-centric model to focusing on farmers’ welfare and income, which is a significant shift in the last decade. We have done extremely well in agriculture, but there’s a need for more technological advancements to achieve self-reliance, particularly in oilseeds and pulses,” said Prof. Sharma. He stressed the importance of adopting new technology, especially in oilseeds and pulses, to reduce import dependency​.

Prof. Sharma highlighted how Indian agriculture has become more resilient to climate change, largely due to technological interventions and better-informed farmers. He pointed out that India achieved record agricultural exports in 2022-2023, but a slight decline in exports this year due to global and internal challenges underlined the need for further transformation.

Sharma emphasized the need for sustained efforts in areas like mechanization, extension services, and private sector investment. One of the key challenges Prof. Sharma addressed was the low level of private sector investment in agriculture, which currently stands at less than 2%. He called for increasing private sector participation, stating, “No sector can grow if private investment remains below 2% or 3%.” He emphasized the need for strong public-private partnerships to create drought-resistant crop varieties, improve market infrastructure, and ensure food security.

In his four-pillar strategy, Prof. Sharma outlined the need for technology deployment: integrating new technologies like artificial intelligence, drones, and blockchain, infrastructure development: expanding both basic and market-side infrastructure, farmer incentives: ensuring farmers grow profitable crops through better prices and policies, and institutional strengthening: building robust institutions to support agricultural transformation.

Sharma also touched on the shift towards high-value agriculture, where fruits, vegetables, livestock, and fisheries now contribute significantly to the agricultural economy. He highlighted the critical need for a strategic focus on oilseeds and pulses, both of which are key to reducing import dependency and ensuring food security. He concluded by reiterating the importance of aligning India’s agricultural growth with global trends while addressing local challenges such as small farm sizes and fragmented land holdings​.

The conference also featured two-panel discussions that delved deep into the challenges and opportunities in Indian agriculture. The first panel, Innovation Deployment by 2030 for Growth in Indian Agriculture, moderated by Dr. Paresh Verma, Executive Director & Chief Executive of Shriram Bioseed Genetics, examined the importance of research collaboration aimed at practical solutions. Dr. D. K. Yadava, ADG (Seeds) from ICAR-Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Dr. A K Singh, Former Director of ICAR-IARI, and Dr. Siang Hee Tan, Executive Director of CropLife Asia, shared their perspectives on the need to strengthen self-reliance in essential crops such as oilseeds, cotton, and maize. They emphasized that enforcing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) is crucial to stimulating investments in research and development.

Moderated by Mr. Ram Kaundinya, Adviser to FSII, the second panel, India’s Journey Towards Becoming a Global Seed Hub focused on India’s potential to become a leading global player in the seed industry. Dr. Arthur Santosh Attavar, President of the International Seed Federation (ISF) and Chairman & Managing Director of Indo-American Hybrid Seeds (India) Pvt. Ltd., Dr. Gyanendra Shukla, MD & CEO of Rallis India Ltd, and Dr. Venkatram Vasantavada, MD & CEO of SeedWorks International Pvt Ltd, outlined the importance of progressive trade policies and regional harmonization to ease seed movement across borders. The panel also highlighted the need to tap into international markets like Africa while improving export infrastructure​. They also highlighted the critical role of phytosanitary standards and e-phyto for easier seed movement across regions.

Director of FSII and Head of Corporate Communications & Media Relations at East-West Seed, UVL Ananda, concluded the conference by urging the seed sector to adopt sustainable and inclusive practices. She advocated for the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles to confront environmental challenges, while also emphasizing the critical role of quality seeds in supporting smallholder farmers. Ananda proposed creating a seed index in India to certify leading seed companies and called for a registry to recognize the significant contributions of women farmers to agriculture.