Hybrid Seeds in India: A Priority for Crop Production

• Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, P.K. Mishra, advocates for hybrid seeds to boost crop production and reduce import dependency.

• Hybrid research should produce higher-productivity seeds than open-pollinated varieties.

• Hybrid pigeon pea and oilseeds need high priority in hybrid research.

• Hybrid seeds should be affordable to smallholder farmers.

• Adoption of hybrid technologies is urgent to ensure food and nutritional security for the growing population.

• The percentage of the workforce dependent on agriculture is as high as 37%