The Indian government has recently launched a new programme called the National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds.

• High-yielding varieties are those that enable increased food production per unit areaand alleviate pressure to add more arable land to production systems.
• About National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds: Launched in the Union Budget for 2025-26 to improve seed research and increase the availability of over 100 new seed varieties since July 2024.
• Main Goals:

o Strengthening research: Develop new high-yielding seeds.

o Improving resistance: Focus on creating seeds resistant to pests and climate stress.

o Commercial availability: Make these seeds easily accessible to farmers.

• Concerns:

o Monoculture risks: Widespread use of a few high-yielding varieties may lead to monoculture farming, making crops more vulnerable to diseases and pests.

o Impact on biodiversity: Promotion of high-yielding seeds could cause the decline of traditional and indigenous seed varieties.

o Loss of pollinator diversity: Shifting to uniform seed varieties may reduce support for bees and butterflies.

• Recommendations: Support a mix of modern and traditional seeds to preserve genetic diversity.

o Invest in community seed banks and support farmer-led seed conservation.