Hybrid Seeds

At present the domestic Hybrid Seeds market is around Rs.3000 Crores annually with an annual growth rate of about 10% as compared to global growth rate of 5%. In view of huge potential of growing Hybrid Seeds business and synergy with our existing product line, KRIBHCO entered into marketing of Hybrid seeds from 2010-2011 and plans to achieve turnover of about Rs. 14.00 Crores during this year itself. The farmers have shown great response to Hybrid seeds of KRIBHCO and Society is targeting a turnover of about Rs. 150 Crores from Hybrid seed during next year.

KRIBHCO has entered into strategic partnership with reputed hybrid seed manufacturers.

SIGNIFICANCE OF HYBRID SEEDS IN CROP PRODUCTIVITY

The role of hybrids enhancing productivity is now widely acknowledged. Hybrid technology fits well for a second green revolution in food grain production which is a must to meet the challenges of rapidly growing population.  The efficiency of other Agriculture Input such as Fertilizers, Pesticides and irrigation is largely determined by quality of seeds which accounts for 20-25 % of Productivity.  It is, therefore imperative that quality seeds of appropriate characteristics are made available to Farmers.  There has been continuous development in Seed quality in last four decades particularly emergence of good Hybrids and Bt. Cotton.  In spite of so much of progress the availability of quality seeds of field crops is around 20 million quintals against the requirement of about 26 million quintals.

Replacement of good quality seeds required every year in case of Hybrids.  The deterioration in the quality of seeds results in loss of productivity and hence needs replacement.  Numbers of studies carried-out on Bt-Cotton both before and after commercialization have clearly shown the following benefits:

1. Higher Cotton yield effective control of boll-owing to worms,
2. Drastic reduction in the application of chemical insecticides,
3. Higher profit to farmers and
4. Conservation of biological control agents and other beneficial organisms,

Average cotton yield  in India which was 308 kg/ha in 2002, prior to introduction of Bt-Cotton, increased to 560 kg/ha in 2007 (at least 50% of increases is attributed to Bt technology). Similarly, the national cotton production increased from mere 15.8 million bales in 2002 to 31.0 m bales in 2007.

Hybrid rice yields about 15 to 20 % more than the best of the semi-dwaft inbred varieties, some of the recently released hybrids possess good grain quality, disease/insect resistance and tolerance to abiotic stresses. With the development of superior hybrids, improved seed production packages and an effective public-private partnership, there is a tremendous scope for increase in the hybrid rice area in the country which will go a long way in raising the productivity levels of rice in India.Single cross maize hybrid seed acceptance is growing. Single crosses will occupy about 60% area in next 3 years.