To facilitate exports from the country the seed industry has called for policy support from the Centre.

M Prabhakara Rao, President of National Seed Association of India (NSAI) said “There is a huge scope for exports of seeds. But we need policy support. We need to ease processes that facilitate exports.”

Addressing the 8th National Seed Congress, Rao said the industry would require government support in getting their products evaluated in the export destinations without much delay.

To ensure insurance cover for seed growers to protect them from the vagaries of seasons, GV Bhaskara Rao, Chairman and Managing Director of Kaveri Seeds, asked the governments.

GV Bhaskara Rao wanted the Telangana government to start a Post-Graduate programme in Seed Technologies to produce skilled manpower in the area of seed production and this proposal was immediately accepted by the Telangana Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and he said a course would be introduced in the agricultural university.

Also the Telangana government has set up a committee to vet the applications from seed firms and research bodies to take up agri bio-technology field trials in the State.

The State government has issued an order to name the committee, following a plea from the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture seeking an NOC for its field trials.