New Delhi, April 1 – The government stated on Wednesday that it has adequate seed stocks available for the upcoming Kharif season, despite the West Asia crisis that has disrupted global supply chains.
Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, said during the inter-ministerial briefing that the country has a self-reliant seed system supported by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the public sector, in addition to the private sector.
Furthermore, a robust supply chain with adequate seeds and breeding materials at all stages (certified, foundation, hybrid seeds) is also in place to address any potential disruptions.
Dwivedi also stated that the price situation is being closely monitored for all agro commodities, and that the prices of key crops, including tomato, onion, and potato, are within an acceptable range and showing improvement at the wholesale level.
For the Kharif Season 2026, the government reported a comfortable seed availability situation with a surplus of approximately 19.29 lakh quintals.
The country's agricultural sector requires 166.46 lakh quintals, while the country has 185.74 lakh quintals available.
In addition, seed inputs for the Rabi season are also readily available.
The government has already assessed the impact on farmers and their fertilizer requirements for the Kharif season. The measures taken in recent years to maintain adequate fertilizer stocks will ensure timely availability and food security.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently emphasized the need for a fair and uninterrupted supply of fertilizers and directed officials to expedite the work on "Farmer IDs" to ensure transparency in the distribution system. He also said that he would soon meet Chief Ministers and state Agriculture Ministers to coordinate the effort.
Furthermore, instructions were issued to take strict action against black marketing and hoarding of fertilizers and seeds to profit from the global crisis. Chouhan said that state governments will also be encouraged to take stringent measures in this direction.
The meeting with officials reviewed the availability of agro-chemicals and essential gases required for seed drying, while the minister emphasized adequate packaging materials, particularly for milk and other agricultural products, amidst the global crisis. He also issued directives to coordinate with the Ministry of Petroleum and other relevant departments to ensure supplies.