Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Inaugurates NSC’s State-of-the-Art Seed Processing Plant in New Delhi

New Delhi, October 27: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan today inaugurated a state-of-the-art vegetable and flower seed processing and packaging unit of the National Seeds Corporation (NSC) at the Pusa Complex in New Delhi. He also virtually inaugurated five NSC seed processing plants located at Bareilly, Dharwad, Hassan, Suratgarh and Raichur.

The new vegetable seed processing plant at Beej Bhawan, Pusa, has a capacity of one tonne per hour, while the other five plants can process up to four tonnes of seeds per hour each. Equipped with advanced technologies, these facilities are designed to ensure the availability of high-quality seeds to farmers and to raise seed production standards across the country.

During the event, the minister launched the ‘Seed Management 2.0’ system and an online seed booking platform for farmers, enabling them to book seed requirements directly and transparently. He stressed that it is crucial for quality seeds to reach small and marginal farmers. “These new plants will fulfil farmers’ requirements, which is extremely important. During the recently conducted Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, the maximum number of complaints received were related to spurious and substandard seeds. Ensuring the supply of quality seeds is essential, and NSC has a vital role to play in this. The government is taking strict measures in this regard,” Chouhan said.

Describing the initiative as a major step towards a self-reliant agricultural system, the Union Minister said the role of the National Seeds Corporation is not merely to earn a livelihood but to fill the nation’s grain reserves. He urged the corporation to innovate in regional languages to make its services more accessible to farmers and curb arbitrary practices of private companies. “Private players have their own role, but public corporations have distinct importance. The functioning of State Seed Development Corporations also needs improvement. Considering all these aspects, NSC should work with a clear roadmap,” he said.

Chouhan added that seeds are the most important input in agriculture and quality seeds are essential for increasing production and productivity. He commended the NSC team for its contribution to strengthening India’s seed supply chain and supporting the vision of a Viksit Bharat through enhanced agricultural efficiency.

The event was attended by Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, NSC CMD and Additional Secretary Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, Joint Secretary Ajit Kumar Sahu, and senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

Established in 1963, the National Seeds Corporation Limited is a Schedule ‘B’ Mini Ratna Category-I company fully owned by the Government of India. It plays a key role in producing and supplying quality seeds to farmers across India, supporting the country’s goal of self-reliance and food security.