Adequate Kharif Planting Seed

NEW DELHI - May 14/13 - SNS -- India's agriculture department reports that the country has enough certified and quality seed available to meet forecast needs for this year's monsoon or kharif season crop cycle.

Total seed needs for all crops is forecast at 1.4 million metric tons (MT), while total seed availability is pegged at 1.54 million.

Among pulses, availability exceeds in the case of urad and moong, but there is an insignificant shortage in the case of arhar.

India's agriculture department estimates seed needs for arhar or pigeon pea total 25,600 MT, with 24,700 MT of certified and quality planting seed available. The country needs 14,700 MT of urad seed, compared to a stocks of 24,900 MT; while moong bean needs total 16,800 MT and seed availability comes in at 18,900 MT.

For rice, the most important food crop sown in kharif, 692,000 MT seed is available while the requirement is pegged at 625,000 MT. Among major cereals, there is slight shortfall in the availability of maize seed. The seed requirements is thought to total 77,900 MT, against an availability of 74,300 MT.

Sufficient quantities of quality seed is in position for major oilseeds grown in kharif season. These include groundnut, soybean, sesame and sunflower. Total oilseed planting seed needs are expected to total 549,100 MT against an availability of 598,800 MT.