Government highlights major reforms in seed research, quality assurance, global collaborations and public-private partnerships to boost agricultural productivity and food security

Key Highlights

• 3,236 crop varieties released and notified between 2014 and 2025.
• 2,996 varieties are climate-resilient, including 587 extreme climate-tolerant seeds.
• Over 10,800 plant varieties registered under the PPV&FR Act, with 5,689 registrations during 2023–26.
• 229 Seed Hubs, 384 Breeder Seed Production Centres and 178 Seed Testing Laboratories support India’s seed ecosystem.
• SATHI Portal introduced for end-to-end digital seed authentication and traceability.
• Seed exports grew to 123.82 thousand metric tonnes, valued at ₹3,023.16 crore in FY 2025-26.
• Government expands collaborations with IRRI, CIMMYT, ICRISAT, ICARDA, CIAT and other global research institutions.
• 1,317 licensing agreements signed between ICAR institutes and public/private organisations over the last three years.
• Advanced technologies including gene editing, molecular breeding and speed breeding are accelerating crop development.

India Expands Climate-Resilient Seed Ecosystem to Boost Agriculture and Global Competitiveness

The Government of India has outlined a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen the country’s seed sector, focusing on climate resilience, research, digital traceability, international collaboration and public-private partnerships to improve agricultural productivity and food security.

According to information shared by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in the Lok Sabha, the National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES)—comprising ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities and coordinated research centres—has released 3,236 field crop varieties between 2014 and 2025.

Of these, 2,996 are climate-resilient varieties, including 341 drought-tolerant, 89 flood-tolerant, 80 salinity-tolerant, 59 heat stress-tolerant and 18 cold-tolerant crop varieties, reflecting India’s growing emphasis on climate-smart agriculture.

Climate-Resilient Seeds Lead India’s Agricultural Innovation

The majority of newly released crop varieties have been developed to withstand changing climatic conditions while improving yields.

Crop-wise Climate-Resilient Varieties

The Government continues to promote breeder, foundation and certified seed production to ensure farmers receive high-yielding and climate-adapted planting material across different agro-climatic zones.

Seed Quality Assurance Gets a Digital Upgrade

India is strengthening quality control through an extensive institutional network that includes:

• 229 Seed Hubs
• 384 Breeder Seed Production Centres
• 178 notified Seed Testing Laboratories
• 17 State Seed Corporations
• National Seeds Corporation and multiple public-sector agricultural organisations

To improve transparency, the Government is implementing the Seed Authentication, Traceability and Holistic Inventory (SATHI) Portal, enabling digital monitoring of seed production, certification, inventory management and distribution across the supply chain.

Seed Exports Continue to Rise

India’s seed industry has also expanded its global footprint.

*Up to May 2026.

The Government has simplified seed import and export procedures through digital approvals under the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), while continuing compliance with quarantine and regulatory norms.

India also participates in globally recognised frameworks including the OECD Seed Schemes, International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) to align domestic standards with international markets.

Public-Private Partnerships Gain Momentum

The Government is encouraging stronger collaboration between public research institutions and private seed companies.

Over the past three years:

• 1,317 licensing agreements have been executed by 27 ICAR Institutes.
• Partnerships support breeder seed multiplication, varietal evaluation, commercial licensing and technology transfer.
• Financial assistance is also available through the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) for seed processing and storage infrastructure.

Several national programmes—including the National Food Security Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds), Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Mission on High Yielding Seeds (NMHYS) and the Mission for Cotton Productivity—continue to support seed research, infrastructure and innovation.

Global Research Collaboration Expands

India remains actively engaged with leading international agricultural research organisations, 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

The International Rice Research Institute’s South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in Varanasi continues to support collaborative rice research, while the Government has also approved the establishment of the International Potato Center South Asia Regional Centre in Agra to strengthen research on climate-resilient potato cultivation.

Hospitality, Food & Tourism Impact

The Government’s investments in climate-resilient seeds and modern agricultural research have far-reaching implications for India’s hospitality, foodservice and tourism sectors.

• Hotels, restaurants and catering businesses stand to benefit from a more reliable supply of cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables and oilseeds despite climate variability.
• Improved crop resilience can help stabilise ingredient availability and reduce supply chain disruptions, supporting menu consistency and procurement planning.
• The development of biofortified and high-yielding varieties aligns with growing consumer demand for healthier, nutritious and sustainably sourced food in hotels and restaurants.
• Continued focus on millets and climate-smart agriculture supports India’s culinary tourism initiatives, regional food festivals and farm-to-table dining experiences.
• Expanding seed exports and stronger agricultural productivity enhance India’s reputation as a global agri-food producer, indirectly supporting food exports, gastronomic tourism and hospitality businesses showcasing Indian cuisine.

Hospitality Outlook: While primarily an agricultural initiative, the Government’s push to modernise India’s seed ecosystem strengthens the foundation of the country’s food value chain. For the hospitality industry, this translates into greater long-term food security, improved sourcing opportunities, stronger farm partnerships and enhanced potential for sustainable culinary and rural tourism experiences.