Varanasi: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will host the 13th edition of the National Seed Congress (NSC) in Varanasi from Nov 28 to 30. The event is being organised in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) and the National Seed Research and Training Centre (NSRTC). It will bring together stakeholders from across the seed value chain, offering a platform to explore transformative solutions and tackle the pressing challenges faced by the sector today.
NSC is an annual gathering of researchers, policymakers, farmers, and representatives from the private and public sectors to build a roadmap for a vibrant and equitable seed sector in India. With the theme, "Fostering Regional Cooperation, Partnership, and Knowledge Exchange in the Seed Sector," NSC 2024 will provide a platform for presenting experiences and insights on the research advances, innovations, and principles related to seed, crop improvement, and seed delivery systems.
Underlining the role of NSC, Shubha Thakur, Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, stated, "To boost farmers' income and ensure food and nutrition security for billions, access to high-quality, climate-resilient, and nutritious seeds, along with improved cultivars, is more crucial than ever. NSC 2024 will serve as a platform to collaborate on addressing these challenges, empowering farmers, and ensuring that India's agriculture remains strong and sustainable. This event will catalyse innovative solutions and promote partnerships that drive seed sector growth."
"This event comes at a crucial time, as agriculture is facing evolving market demands and a need for more inclusive and sustainable seed systems. The convergence of experts and stakeholders from across the seed value chain in diverse agroecologies will allow us to generate impactful solutions to these complex issues," said Yvonne Pinto, Director General, IRRI.
Sudhanshu Singh, Director of ISARC, will convene this year's event. Manoj Kumar, Director of NSRTC and co-convener of the event, emphasised NSRTC's critical role in improving seed quality and training across the country.