Seed Village Programme: Detailed Guidelines

Since 2014-15, the government of India has been implementing the Seed Village Programme (Beej Gram Yojana) to improve the quality of farmer-saved seeds. This program provides financial assistance for the distribution of foundation/certified seeds at 50% of seed cost for cereal crops and 60% for pulses, oilseeds, fodder, and green manure crops for up to one acre per farmer. In 2021-22, the government of India spent 12 crores on the Seed Village Programme.

Details

Since 2014-15, the government of India has been implementing the Seed Village Programme (Beej Gram Yojana) to improve the quality of farmer-saved seeds.
This program provides financial assistance for the distribution of foundation/certified seeds at 50% of seed cost for cereal crops and 60% for pulses, oilseeds, fodder, and green manure crops for up to one acre per farmer.
The seed produced in these seed villages must be preserved/ stored until the following sowing season.
To encourage farmers to develop appropriate storage capacity, farmers will be assisted in making/purchasing Pusa Bin/Mud bin/Bin made from paper pulp for storing seed produced by farmers on their farms.

Implementing Agencies

State Departments of Agriculture, State Agriculture Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, State Seeds Corporation, National Seeds Corporation, and State Farms Corporation of India (SFCI), State Seeds Certification Agencies, and the Department of Seed Certification will be the implementing agencies.
The State Government will authorize the establishment of one implementing agency for the area/locality.

Objectives

To improve the quality of farmers' saved seed by employing various seed enhancement techniques.
To ensure disease and insect-free seed production through the use of appropriate plant protection measures.
To educate farmers on seed production technology, the use of the quality seed and an improved package of practices for various seed crops.

Monitoring of the Scheme

The Seeds Division of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation will oversee the scheme. The implementing agencies will be required to report on their progress quarterly.

The Government of India holds a Zonal Seed Review Meeting twice a year, prior to the start of each sowing season, namely Kharif and Rabi. Departments of Agriculture from various states/UTs, National & State Level Seed Producing Agencies, and Seed Certification Agencies were invited to these meetings to assess the need for and availability of seed across the country prior to each season, in order to ensure timely availability of seed to farmers.