World players have designs on region

CHANDIGARH: As need for increasing per acre yield of food grains is felt more, international hybrid seed manufacturers like Bayer Crop Science and Monsanto are eying the growing demand in the northern region.
While Monsanto has been involved with the maize crop in Punjab, Bayer Crop has been into rice seeds. Vice-chairman Punjab planning board SS Johl said, "The farmers should focus on improving per acre yield and getting better price for the produce.Since water is free, the conservation of shrinking water table is a concern. Hybrid seeds can help here."
According to estimates, maize production is up in Punjab from 1.8 to 2.2 tonnes per acre now through use of hybrid seeds, coupled with improved agri practices and high irrigation facilities.
The demand for maize seeds in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh markets is around 3000 MT out of which Monsanto's share is less than 10 %. "The market is growing in north," said a Monsanto India official.
In the case of rice crop, which consumes a lot of water during the sowing season leading to reduced water table, the hybridisation in India is only about 2 %. Out of the 11000 MT rice seed market in India, Bayer sells around 38,000 MT. It plans to increase sales from 1000 MT this year to 1500 MT in 2007.
Talking on the low popularity of hybrid seeds in Punjab, a Bayer Crop Science official said there is lack of
awareness about return on investment on use of such seeds among farmers. The company has plans to launch 6129 variety of rice seed, which needs less water, matures in 115 days as compared to 150 days in case of normal seed. Another issue the farmers have been grappling with is the pricing of the hybrid variety seeds, which costs four times the normal seed.
For instance as against a price range of Rs 20-30/kg of normal rice seed, the hybrid variety sells at Rs 160-180 per kg.
However, a Bayer official says only half the quantity of hybrid seed is required to be sprayed in the farm as compared to normal seeds. It improves the crop yield by around 20 %. The cost of seeds thus evens out as yield goes up, he added.