India’s seed revolution: How climate-resilient varieties, policy reforms are reshaping agriculture

Ziraat Times Team Report

New Delhi, July 21: As climate change, rising food demand and global competition place increasing pressure on agriculture, India is undertaking a major transformation of its seed sector. From developing climate-resilient crop varieties and strengthening quality assurance systems to boosting exports and fostering public-private partnerships, the government has launched a series of initiatives aimed at making India’s seed ecosystem more robust, innovative and globally competitive.

A written reply by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur in the Lok Sabha on Monday outlined the scale of these efforts and highlighted the critical role that quality seeds are expected to play in ensuring food security and agricultural sustainability in the coming decades.

Climate-resilient seeds at the heart of strategy

One of the most significant achievements has been the development of thousands of improved crop varieties through India’s National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES), which includes ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, Central Agricultural Universities and specialised research centres.

Between 2014 and 2025, India released and notified 3,236 field crop varieties, of which 2,996 were climate-resilient. These included varieties capable of withstanding drought, floods, salinity, heat stress and cold conditions.

Among them were 587 extreme climate-tolerant varieties, including:

• 341 drought-tolerant varieties

• 89 flood-tolerant varieties

• 80 salinity-tolerant varieties

• 59 heat stress-tolerant varieties

• 18 cold-tolerant varieties

Cereals accounted for the largest share of climate-resilient varieties, followed by pulses, oilseeds, fibre crops and forages.

Agriculture experts view these developments as crucial at a time when erratic weather patterns, water stress and rising temperatures are increasingly affecting farm productivity across India.

Strengthening the seed supply chain

The government has also expanded infrastructure for seed production and distribution to ensure farmers have access to quality planting material.

India currently has:

• 229 Seed Hubs

• 384 Breeder Seed Production Centres

• 17 State Seed Corporations

• National Seeds Corporation Limited (NSC)

These institutions work alongside cooperatives and private seed companies to produce and distribute certified seeds across the country.

Public sector organisations such as Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL), NAFED, KRIBHCO, NFL, HIL and IFFDC are also playing an increasing role in strengthening seed availability.

Faster protection for new varieties

India has accelerated the registration of plant varieties under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, enabling breeders, universities, research institutions and seed companies to secure legal protection for their innovations.

So far, 10,802 varieties belonging to 219 crop species have been registered under the Act. Notably, 5,689 registrations were completed between 2023 and 2026, reflecting a significant increase in processing and approvals.

Officials say the move encourages innovation while safeguarding the interests of farmers and plant breeders.

Improving quality assurance through technology

Ensuring seed quality remains a key focus area.

India currently operates 178 notified Seed Testing Laboratories across the country. The government provides support for laboratory modernisation, international accreditation and technical audits.

A major technological intervention has been the rollout of the Seed Authentication, Traceability and Holistic Inventory (SATHI) Portal, designed to provide end-to-end digital traceability of seeds from production and certification to storage and distribution.

The platform is expected to improve transparency, strengthen quality control and help curb the circulation of spurious and sub-standard seeds.

Seed exports on the rise

India’s seed exports have shown steady growth, reflecting increasing international acceptance of Indian seed quality standards.

Seed exports increased from 92.06 thousand metric tonnes worth ₹2,323 crore in 2024-25 to 123.82 thousand metric tonnes valued at ₹3,023 crore in 2025-26.

Imports also rose during the same period, indicating growing integration with global seed markets.

To facilitate trade, the government has simplified import and export procedures through digital platforms operated by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), while maintaining quarantine and regulatory safeguards.

India’s participation in international frameworks such as the OECD Seed Schemes and the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) is helping align domestic standards with globally accepted benchmarks.

Access to global research and germplasm

As a founding member of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), India has access to global genetic resources that support crop improvement and seed research.

The country also collaborates with leading international agricultural research institutions, including:

• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

• International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

• International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

• International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

• Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT

These partnerships facilitate knowledge exchange, access to germplasm and the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural technologies.

The International Rice Research Institute’s South Asia Regional Centre in Varanasi and the recently approved International Potato Center South Asia Regional Centre in Agra are expected to further strengthen collaborative research efforts.

Growing role of public-private partnerships

The government is increasingly relying on partnerships between public research institutions and private companies to accelerate seed multiplication and distribution.

Over the last three years, 27 ICAR institutes executed 1,317 licensing agreements covering seeds, crop varieties and planting materials with public and private sector organisations.

Officials say these collaborations are helping bring improved varieties to farmers more quickly while leveraging private-sector investment and outreach networks.

New technologies driving innovation

India’s seed research ecosystem is increasingly adopting advanced breeding technologies such as:

• Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS)

• Gene Editing

• Speed Breeding

• Molecular Breeding

• Biofortification

Government support is also being extended to research in agrobiodiversity, millet development and the establishment of a global research and development hub for millets.

Financial assistance is being provided through schemes such as the National Food Security Nutrition Mission, National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds, Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and the National Mission on High Yielding Seeds.

Building resilience for the future

At a time when climate change is emerging as one of the biggest threats to agricultural production, policymakers view seeds as the first line of defence.

The development of nearly 3,000 climate-resilient crop varieties over the past decade, combined with investments in research, quality assurance, digital traceability and international collaboration, signals a long-term effort to build a more resilient agricultural system.

As India seeks to balance food security, farmer incomes and export ambitions, the country’s seed sector is increasingly emerging as a strategic pillar of agricultural transformation and climate adaptation.