Krishonnati Yojana - Sub Mission On Seed And Planting Material (SMSP)

DETAILS The scheme "Sub Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)" is a centrally sponsored scheme under the umbrella scheme of "Green Revolution – Krishonnati Yojana".  "Green Revolution – Krishonnati Yojana" is an Umbrella Scheme for the agriculture sector that has been implemented since 2016-17 by clubbing several schemes/missions under one umbrella scheme. The Umbrella scheme comprises 11 Schemes/Missions. These schemes look to develop the agriculture and allied sector holistically and scientifically to increase the income of farmers by enhancing production, productivity, and better returns on produce.  The Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material (SMSP) aims to increase the production of certified / quality seed, increase SRR, upgrade the quality of farm-saved seeds, strengthen the seed multiplication chain, promote new technologies and methodologies in seed production, processing, testing, etc., to strengthen and modernizing infrastructure for seed production, storage, certification, and quality, etc.  Objectives of SMSP - Increasing production of certified/ quality seed Increasing Seed Replacement rate (SRR) more particularly to achieve higher SRR in crops like paddy, gram, groundnut, cotton, etc. as recommended by the Consultative Group of the Ministry of Agriculture Upgrading the quality of farm-saved seeds with a specific objective to cover 60,000 villages and produce 100 lakh quintals of seed each year through farmers' participatory seed production. Creation of Seed Infrastructure facilities in the Public Sector. Encouraging seed treatment, particularly for farm-saved seed. Strengthening the seed multiplication chain through assistance to the public and private sectors. Popularizing new varieties to encourage varietal replacement. Promoting new technologies and methodologies in seed production, processing, testing, etc. Strengthening and modernizing infrastructure for seed production, storage, certification, and quality control particularly to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Seeds Bill 2004/ISTA standards, and OECD certification. Facilitating the movement of seed from India in international trade and increasing its share to 10% by 2020 as envisaged in the new policy on seed development. Assisting and supporting public and private seed-producing organizations in the seed sector and encouraging partnerships. Ensuring availability of seed in contingent situations. Facilitating the dissemination of seed-related information through information, education, and communication. To provide an effective system for the protection of plant varieties, the rights of farmers as well as plant breeders and to encourage the development of new varieties of plants, through PPVFRA.  Components of SMSP - 1. Strengthening for Seed Quality Control 2. Strengthening of Grow Out Test(GOT) facilities 3. Support to seed certification agencies 4. Seed Village Programme 5. Certified seed production through seed villages 6. Seed Processing Facilities 7. Seed Storage Facilities 8. Transport subsidy on the movement of Seed to North Eastern States etc. 9. National Seed Reserve 10. Application of Biotechnology in agriculture 11. Public Private Partnership in the seed sector 12. Assistance for boosting seed production in the Private Sector 13. Support to Sub-Mission Director and Survey / Studies 14. Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmer’s Rights Authority (PPVFRA) BENEFITS Intervention: Strengthening for Seed Quality Control Pattern of Funding: 100% GOI share, except a new sub-component with 75:25 Centre:State share Rate of Assistance: (i) Seed Testing Laboratories Equipment for Seed Testing Laboratories: Assistance for Rs.60 lakh per laboratory will be available for laboratory equipment. Details of equipment and estimated cost for handling approximately 10,000 samples per year in a laboratory is given in Annexure–II. Renovation of Seed Testing Laboratory: Rs. 20.00 lakh available for renovation of a seed testing laboratory with the capacity of 10,000 seed samples with area of 250 Sqm. Equipment for DNA Finger Printing / Varietal Purity - Testing Laboratory: Assistance for Rs.70 lakh will be available for the DNA fingerprinting facility at one notified seed testing laboratory. Specialized seed health testing units: Assistance for Rs. 55.00 lakh will be available to establish/strengthen one specialized seed health testing laboratory. Payment of ISTA fee: Financial assistance of Rs.15 lakh will be available to the maximum 5 Seed Testing Laboratories functioning under NSRTC, State Government/Union Territories, Seeds Corporations, and Seed Certification Agencies to obtain/run the membership of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA).  (ii) Strengthening of Seed Law Enforcement: Assistance for reimbursement of seed sample cost @ Rs. 10.00 lakh is available. (75% centre : 25 % State)  (iii) Support to the National Seed Research and Training Center: Financial assistance of Rs. 12.00 crore will be provided to NSRTC for salary wages, maintenance of facilities and other routine activities, and administrative expenditures for 3 years. Development of Centralized Seed Certification Portal at NSRTC: Financial Assistance will be provided for the development of software and hardware @Rs. 20.00 lakh per State Seed Certification Agency Centralized Seed Certification Portal at NSRTC for giving linkage to the 25 SSC.  (iv) Training and workshop: Financial assistance of Rs.2.00 lakh will be available for training on seed-related activities viz. training of 25 persons for 5 days training course.  (v) Strengthening of Central Seed Committee and Central Seed Certification Board: Financial assistance of Rs..10.00 lakh per year is available for TA / DA for non-official members of CSC & CSCB and its sub-committees.  Intervention: Strengthening of Grow Out Test (GOT) Facilities Pattern of Funding: 100% GOI Rate of Assistance: (i) Grow-out Test Farm: Financial assistance of Rs.50.00 lakhs for strengthening of 5 hectares of GOT farm. (ii) Green House facility: An assistance of Rs.10 lakh will be available for the establishment of a Green House facility for eligible organizations.  Intervention: Support to Seed Certification Agencies Pattern of Funding: 25% GOI : 75% State Rate of Assistance: (i) Salary for the Staff: Rs.50.00 lakh, per agency, per year. will be available for staff who are involved in seed management; field inspection; sampling; analysis; monitoring; evaluation, certification, and pre and post-harvesting supervision, etc. (ii) Travelling allowance: 25% of the total cost of traveling allowance is subject to a maximum limit of Rs. 10.00 lakh per agency to conduct of inspection, analysis and certification activities, the mobility of staff through jeep and motorcycle is proposed based on one for every 800 hectares and 400 hectares respectively. (iii) Office Automation & Communication Facility: Financial assistance will be available to each seed certification agency for supporting Office automation & Communication facility up to Rs.50.00 lakh per SCA.  Intervention: Seed Treatment Pattern of Funding: 75% GOI : 25% State Rate of Assistance: Financial assistance will be available up to 75% of the cost as a subsidy for the cost of seed treatment @ Rs.100.00 per quintal of seeds with maximum central assistance for one agency per year will be Rs.20 lakh.  Intervention: Promotion of Seed Export Pattern of Funding: 100% GOI Rate of Assistance: (i) Assistance freight charges from seed store/ware house to port of exit @30% of the actual cost subject to maximum of Rs.3.00 lakh per beneficiary (20 units). (ii) Assistance to exporter/producer/growers for set up of seed conditioning unit for conditioning the seeds for export including controlled storage unit @40% of the actual cost subject to maximum of Rs.10.00 lakh per beneficiary (19 units). (iii) Up-gradation of Seed Testing Laboratory upto the ISTA Standard to issue the orange certificate for international seed trade @25% of the actual cost subject to maximum of Rs.5.00 lakh per beneficiary (10 laboratories).  Intervention: Support for R&D, Contract Research and Acquisition of New Varietal Products Pattern of Funding: 60% GOI : 40% State Rate of Assistance: Assistance of 60% subject to a maximum of Rs.1.15 crore will be provided to prepare a project for the acquisition of a new varietal project, technology Contract Research, setting up of an R&D Unit, etc. The beneficiary institute has to provide a detailed financial backup of the remaining 40% of the project.  Intervention: Strengthening of Seed Farms Pattern of Funding: 75% GOI : 25% State Rate of Assistance: 75% financial assistance restricted to approved project cost to a maximum limit of Rs.80.21 lakh including State share will be provided by GOI to implementing agencies for each farm which comprises - (i) Financial assistance of Rs.5.00 lakh will be provided for the renova