Centre adds 42 new seed varieties to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development list

HYDERABAD: In a bid to boost export of seeds, the union government has added 42 new seed varieties to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD) list after receiving recommendations from the industry taking the total number of registered varieties to 190 and 24 crops, said a top official of union ministry of agriculture.

OECD is a group of 35 countries which has set up standards for seed development and the same can be traded among the member countries.

Rajesh Kumar Singh, joint secretary with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, said, "We have accepted the recommendation of adding new varieties to the OECD list and have added 42 new varieties subject to fulfilling of criteria. As of now, about 190 varieties and 24 crops have already been registered."

Earlier this year, the government had included 38 varieties to the OECD list.

"Inclusion of more varieties in this list will allow Indian companies to boost exports as it opens up a huge export market," said Singh.

The government has also identified Rajasthan and Telangana as the lead designated agencies for seed certification for Northern India and Southern India respectively. It has also given a permission to Telangana State Seed Certification Agency for establishment of an International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) cell and has already disbursed Rs 12.8 lakh for the purpose.

"A task force was set up for regular review and monitoring of the progress of the OECD seed certification agency," said Singh, who acts as the chairman of this task force.