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18 seed banks are in operation in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Kerala through the State Seed Corporations/Seeds Development Authority (SSCs) and in Tamil Nadu through State Department of Agriculture. National Seeds Corporation and State Farms Corporation of India also operate Seed Banks at National Level. The objectives of the Seed Bank are to meet requirement of Seed arising due to natural calamities and other unforeseen conditions like drought, floods etc. The certified and foundation seeds of location specific varieties including local varieties which are suitable for such situations are generally kept in the Seed Bank. The existing seeds banks are adequate to meet the needs of the farmers.

Seed Banks are established based on the needs expressed by the States and with a specific mandate to provide alternate seeds in the event of unforeseen calamities such as drought, flood etc. The seeds that are stored in these banks are of short and medium duration varieties of crops suited for the area and to meet the requirement of contingent situations.

However, the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) and national active germplasm sites which are operating as Gene banks in different states have objectives to collect, characterize, evaluate, conserve and to make available germplasm including land races, wild species and traditional varieties of different crops including indigenous varieties of vegetables, grains and cereals for agricultural research purposes. Also, these gene banks conserve local varieties.

This information was given by Shri Tariq Anwar, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

MP: DS: CP: seed banks (11.12.2012)
(Release ID :90409)