Seed processing, transport disruption likely to affect kharif sowing season

he lockdown is set to have a major impact on the upcoming kharif sowing season and could result in a severe food shortage in the country.
Not only have all the seed processing and packaging facilities in Telangana, which accounts for 70-80% of India’s seed processing with players like Corteva Agriscience (formerly DowDuPont), Bayer, Shriram Bioseeds, NSL, Kaveri Seeds, UPL, come to a grinding halt, dispatch of processed seeds to farmers nationwide and inbound stocks of seeds, especially maize, are rotting at plants or enroute due to lack of labour and transportation, according to said seed industry. The Federation of Seeds Industry of India (FSII) estimates nearly 3.4 lakh tonnes of seeds are to be processed, packed and transported from south India to rest of India in April and May, including 2.72 lakh tonnes from Telangana.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes