Prelims 2014 · Agriculture · Question 34
In the context of food and nutritional security of India, enhancing the 'Seed Replacement Rates' of various crops helps in achieving the food production targets of the future. But what is/are the constraint/constraints in its wider/greater implementation? 1. There is no National Seeds Policy in place. 2. There is no participation of private sector seed companies in the supply of quality seeds of vegetables and planting materials of horticultural crops. 3. There is a demand-supply gap regarding quality seeds in case of low value and high volume crops. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer
3 only
1. Incorrect. India has had a National Seeds Policy, 2002; so absence of a policy is not the constraint.
2. Incorrect. Private seed companies do participate significantly, especially in hybrids, vegetables and horticultural planting material.
3. Correct. A major constraint is the demand-supply gap in quality seeds for low-value, high-volume crops such as many cereals/pulses, where private incentives are weaker.
Hence, 3 only is correct.