India's private seed companies are holding 20-30 per cent surplus stock for the kharif season, but ensuring timely distribution to rain-deficient regions remains the biggest challenge as El Nino threatens a weak and delayed monsoon this year, industry body Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) said.
FSII Chairman Ajai Rana said the sector is well prepared following a bumper seed production season for corn, rice and millets. However, a recent survey of 1,000 farmers showed that while 75 per cent had already purchased seeds, the remaining 25 per cent were waiting for the monsoon, underscoring the urgency of moving stocks from surplus areas to vulnerable districts before the sowing window closes.
