Agriculture Speed booster – Vegetable Seed Business

Agriculture Speed booster – Vegetable Seed Business

Vegetables are immensely diverse crops covering leaf, stem , flower, inflorescence, bud, root, raw and mature fruit etc. more than 100 genera are grown globally as fresh vegetables but 35-40 genera are the major vegetables which are grown in major vegetable growing areas of world. Currently global vegetable business is worth of US$ 8.0 billion out of US$ 42 billion total seed industry. Statistics says in last 40 years it has grown from US$ 0.8 billion to US$ 8.0 billion, by almost 10 times. This clearly indicates the importance of vegetables in food, health and nutrition globally.

Currently 20% vegetable seed business is contributing to overall Seed industry worth of 42 billion. In depth Commercial seed market is bifurcated as US$ 8 billion for vegetable seed, US4 34 billion for cereal crop ( 26 b $ non GM crop and 8 b $ for GM crop)

Globally tomato is the biggest crop occupies 11% of total vegetable seed market. The crops like cabbage, sweet pepper, and lettuce occupy 7% each of total vegetable seed market. The watermelons, onions, Chinese cabbage, and hot pepper stand with 5% each market share.

India ranks 2^nd after China in crop production. India on other hand is blessed with varied agro climatic zones which makes it unique hub for seed production. India produced 71.5 million MT of fruits and 134 million MT of vegetables during 2009-10 (Ref data from NHB). The area cultivated for fruits were 6.4 million hectares and vegetables 8.0 million hectare respectively.  The vast production base for of fresh vegetables offers tremendous scope for Export business. India is largest producers of Okra and ginger. Potatoes, onions, cauliflower, eggplant, cabbage etc are also showing good scope. In India vegetables and fruits worth Rs 3865 Cr were exported in 2010-11, whereas fruits worth Rs 2635 Cr and Vegetables worth Rs 1221 cr were exported.

Indian vegetable seed industry is worth of US$ 2.3 billion, out of which US$ 400 million come from vegetable seed business. But he contribution is 55% open pollinated varieties and 45% hybrid varieties. In Hybrids Tomato, hot pepper, Okra has 18.5% market share each. While cucumber, watermelon have 5-7% market share each.  Total seed market is more than US $ 200 million and more than 3000 Mt seed is being produced to have overall more than 50% seed replacement rate in hybrid vegetables.

Above statistics clearly mention the vast scope for vegetable seed industry. Most of the crops are still in just Awareness state as no crop seems to be ruling the market or taste of consumers. Except Tomato and Onion other crops seems to be still fighting for acreage cover. Tomato on other hand has good position because of high market price therefore most of the company are focusing on high value crop like tomato and thus is always prioritize with good marketing tactics. It is a good salad crop and makes chef 1^st choice in major salad dishes. But on the other side crops like beans, cucumber also picking the pace for salad list in menu.  I tried to put above example to show the how 50-50% market share is divide between OPV and Hybrids in INDIA.

This is Obvious fact that Indian Seed Industry has long way to go to be the market leader despite of having the potentiality to fulfill basic needs of Human being.

(Statistical data ref from NSA Sovenir 2012.)