In October 2025, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW), inaugurated a new state-of-the-art vegetable and flower seed processing and packaging unit of the National Seeds Corporation (NSC), MoAFW, at Pusa Complex in New Delhi, Delhi.
- He virtually inaugurated five NSC seed processing plants in Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh, UP), Dharwad (Karnataka), Hassan (Karnataka), Suratgarh (Rajasthan), and Raichur (Karnataka).
- He also launched Seed Management 2.0 system and an online seed booking platform for farmers.
Exam Hints:
- What? Vegetable and flower seed packaging unit, 5 NSC seed processing plants inaugurated
- Who? Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, MoAFW
- Packaging unit: In New Delhi (Delhi)
- 5 NSC plants: In Bareilly, Dharwad, Hassan, Suratgarh, and Raichur.
- Capacity: 1 tonne (NSC Delhi), 4 tonne (5 plants)
Highlights of Launch Event:
Dignitaries: Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of MoAFW; Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of NSC, and Additional Secretary, MoAFW; Ajit Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary of MoAFW, were also present at the event.
Vegetable Processing Plant: The plant has a processing capacity of 1 tonne of seeds per hour.
- It is designed to handle, clean, grade, and package vegetable and flower seeds efficiently, ensuring minimal wastage and better-quality control.
Five NSC Plants: The five plants have a processing capacity of 4 tonnes per hour, enabling large scale handling of seeds. They are equipped with advanced seed processing, grading, and packaging technologies to maintain purity, viability, and germination quality.
- The facility ensures farmers across India get access to high-quality, certified seeds, improving agricultural productivity.
Seed Management 2.0 System: It is a modern digital tool developed to strengthen the monitoring, planning, and distribution of quality seeds across India.
- It aims to improve the efficiency of seed production, storage, and supply chains under the NSC.
Online Seed Booking Platform: It is designed to make the process of purchasing seeds simpler and more transparent. Through this portal, farmers can easily book and purchase certified seeds directly from NSC, avoiding middlemen and delays.
- It ensures timely delivery, wider accessibility, and better awareness about the availability of seeds.
About National Seeds Corporation (NSC):
NSC: It is a Schedule “B”, Mini Ratna Category-I Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), under MoAFW, established in 1963.
Functions:It produces, processes, and distributes high-quality certified seeds of various crops to farmers across India.
Collaboration: NSC, based in New Delhi, ensures seed testing, quality assurance, and collaborates with research institutions for developing improved varieties. It aims to provide reliable, high-yield seeds to farmers, boosting agricultural productivity and food security.
About Karnataka:
Chief Minister (CM) – Siddaramaiah
Governor – Thawar Chand Gehlot
Capital – Bengaluru
Tiger Reserve (TR) – Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple TR, Bandipur TR
