In the context of food and nutritional security of India, enhancing the ‘Seed Replacement Rates’ of various crops helps in achieving the food production targets of the future. But what is/are the constraint/ constraints in its wider / greater implementation? (1). There is no National Seeds Policy in place. (2). There is no participation of private sector seed companies in the supply of quality seeds of vegetables and planting materials of horticultural crops. (3). There is a demand-supply gap regarding quality seeds in case of low value and high volume crops. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

The correct answer is B (3 only). Statement 3 is the real constraint: the seed replacement rate (SRR) is low for low-value, high-volume crops like cereals, pulses and oilseeds, where farmers keep saving seed and the supply of certified or quality seed falls well short of demand.

• Statement 1 is false. India has had a National Seed Policy (2002) and a National Seeds Policy framework under the Seeds Act and Seeds Control Order. The real gap is the Seeds Bill, which has been drafted repeatedly since 2004 but not enacted. Check its latest status, as it has changed since 2014.
• Statement 2 is false. Private companies already dominate hybrid vegetable seed and a large share of horticultural planting material, so the claim that they do not participate is wrong.

This links to the food security and agriculture inputs theme in GS-III. For Mains, the point is that seed quality, varietal renewal and public-private roles decide whether production targets are met, not just land and irrigation.

Trap: Aspirants reject Statement 1 but accept Statement 2 because they assume the government alone supplies seed. Private seed companies are a major player in vegetables.