India Builds Kharif Safety Net with 1.74 Lakh Quintal National Seed Reserve to Protect Farmers from Seed Shortages

The move is significant because seed is the first and most decisive input in agriculture. A farmer may have land, labour, water access, credit and fertiliser, but the agricultural cycle begins only when the right seed reaches the field at the right time. In a country where Kharif sowing depends heavily on monsoon behaviour, regional rainfall patterns and local crop choices, a national reserve gives the government and states a practical buffer against sudden shortages, delayed supply chains or cl