New Delhi, Oct 27 (NationPress) Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday inaugurated a cutting-edge vegetable and flower seed processing and packaging unit of the National Seeds Corporation (NSC) at Pusa Institute and also virtually launched five additional NSC seed processing plants located in Bareilly, Dharwad, Hassan, Suratgarh, and Raichur.

The facility at Beej Bhawan in the Pusa complex has a processing capacity of 1 tonne per hour, while the other five NSC plants each have a capacity of 4 tonnes per hour. These advanced facilities are designed to guarantee the availability of superior quality seeds for farmers, ultimately boosting seed production standards across the nation.

During the ceremony, Chouhan also introduced the ‘Seed Management 2.0’ system alongside an online seed booking platform for farmers. This initiative allows farmers to order their seed needs online, fostering enhanced transparency and accessibility. He highlighted the importance of delivering quality seeds to small and marginal farmers as a means to improve their income.

Chouhan remarked that these new facilities would guarantee farmers access to high-quality seeds, significantly increasing agricultural productivity.

“These innovative plants will address the needs of farmers, which is critically important. During the recent ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’, the majority of complaints pertained to counterfeit and inferior seeds. Thus, ensuring the supply of quality seeds is imperative, and NSC has a crucial role to fulfill. The government is implementing stringent measures in this regard,” stated the Union Minister.

Praising the NSC team, Chouhan characterized this initiative as a substantial step towards achieving a self-sufficient agricultural system, asserting that NSC's mission extends beyond mere livelihood to enhancing the nation's grain reserves.

The minister also took part in the National Agricultural Students Conference held at the Pusa Institute. The conference saw considerable participation from agricultural students nationwide, with thousands joining virtually. Agricultural scientists, professors, and senior officials from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and various agricultural universities were also present.

In his speech, Chouhan expressed his concern over the significant number of vacant positions within agricultural institutions. He instructed the Director General of ICAR to take prompt action to address these vacancies to maintain quality education.

Furthermore, the Union Minister announced his intention to contact all Chief Ministers to expedite the recruitment of vacant posts in agricultural universities and colleges within their states and to discuss this issue with the relevant agriculture ministers.

The conference aimed to foster innovation, research, modern technology, and knowledge sharing in the agricultural sector. It sought to uplift the quality of agricultural education, inspire young talent, and bolster research efforts through active student engagement.

He stressed the necessity of grading agricultural universities and colleges to promote healthy competition and urged ICAR to examine global best practices for adaptation within the Indian context.