Theme: “Innovating for a sustainable seed ecosystem.”
Jointly organized by the Union Agriculture Ministry and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
Focus Areas for Innovation:
Development of hybrid and biofortified crops.
Breeding stress-tolerant crop varieties.
Accelerating breeding cycles.
Biofortified crops are crops that have been genetically modified to have higher levels of nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.
Discussions on Climate-Resilient Practices:
Adoption of direct-seeded rice.
Promotion of zero-tillage farming.
Aim to minimize farming input costs.
Policy Frameworks and Initiatives:
Emphasis on a new Seeds Bill.
Enhancing seed entrepreneurship.
Strengthening supply chains and farmer capacity-building.
Promoting public-private partnerships for sustainable seed production and distribution.
Direct seeded rice (DSR) is a rice cultivation method that involves sowing pre-germinated or dry seeds directly into the field, instead of transplanting seedlings from a nursery
zero-tillage farming
Role of U.P. in Seed Systems:
Plans to make Uttar Pradesh a hub for quality seed production.
Strategies to empower farmers with access to better seeds for higher productivity and profitability.
Encouraging discussions on seed parks and empowering farmers as seed entrepreneurs.
Key Recommendations:
Integration of biofortified rice into school nutrition programs.
Promotion of hybrid varieties.
Adoption of climate-resilient farming practices.
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