Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday (October 27, 2025) inaugurated a state-of-the-art vegetable and flower seed processing and packaging unit of the National Seeds Corporation (NSC) at Pusa Complex in New Delhi. He also inaugurated five NSC seed processing plants located in Bareilly, Dharwad, Hassan, Suratgarh, and Raichur.
The new vegetable seed processing plant at Beej Bhawan, Pusa, has a capacity of one tonne per hour, while the other five NSC plants can process four tonnes per hour each. Equipped with modern technology, these facilities are expected to enhance the quality and availability of certified seeds to farmers and strengthen India’s seed production ecosystem.
Alongside the inaugurations, Chouhan launched ‘Seed Management 2.0’ and an online seed booking platform that allows farmers to order their seed requirements digitally. The minister said this digital initiative would make seed distribution more transparent and accessible, especially for small and marginal farmers. “It is crucial that quality seeds reach every farmer, particularly those in remote areas,” he said.
Addressing the event, Chouhan highlighted that most complaints received during the recently concluded ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ were related to fake or poor-quality seeds. He assured that the government is taking strict action to prevent such issues and emphasised NSC’s vital role in ensuring the supply of reliable seeds. “These new facilities will meet farmers’ needs and play a key role in improving agricultural productivity,” he added.
Chouhan also urged NSC to focus on innovation, regional language communication, and improving the efficiency of State Seed Development Corporations. “Private players have their role, but public institutions like NSC carry a special responsibility. They must work with a clear roadmap and a mission to serve farmers,” he said.
The event was attended by Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, NSC CMD and Additional Secretary Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, Joint Secretary Ajit Kumar Sahu, and senior officials from the Agriculture Ministry. Established in 1963, NSC is a Mini Ratna Category-I company under the Government of India and continues to play a key role in producing and distributing high-quality seeds nationwide.
