NEW DELHI: The seed industry aims to increase India’s share of global seed trade from around 1% to 10% by 2035, while boosting domestic research and self-reliance in crops such as oilseeds and pulses, the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) said on Thursday.The industry, currently valued at $3.6 billion and projected to exceed $5 billion by 2030, outlined the target at FSII Knowledge Day 2026, held alongside its 10th annual general meeting in New Delhi.Ajai Rana, chairman of FSII and MD & CEO of Savannah Seeds, said India had the scientific expertise and agricultural base to become a major global seed-market player. He called for greater investment in research, particularly in oilseeds and pulses, and welcomed government initiatives such as the National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds.Rana also called for a single national framework for seed regulation, predictable approval timelines for new varieties and technologies, and stronger intellectual-property protection to encourage long-term investment.He cited India’s low research spending compared with developed countries, saying increased R&D investment could boost innovation and reduce dependence on imports.On edible oils, Rana said greater coordination between the government and industry could help India achieve self-sufficiency within a decade. He pointed to mustard hybrids developed by the industry that can produce about one tonne per acre and suggested shifting some land from wheat to mustard to raise farmer incomes and reduce import dependence.Kishore Jaiswal, a progressive farmer and convenor of the National Farmers’ Empowerment Initiative, said farmers were more likely to adopt improved seed varieties after seeing their results in the field. He called for Indian farmers to have access to new seed technologies at the same time as farmers in other countries.A report by Sathguru Management Consultants and the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs found that 93% of vegetable farmers surveyed across five major producing states use hybrid seeds, with 68% sourcing them through dealers. Quality, cost and reliability were among the main factors influencing seed choice.The report found an average cultivation cost of Rs 1.07 lakh per acre and a reported average return on investment of 2.7 times. It also found that 85% of farmers reported improved crop resilience, while 61% considered newer varieties climate-ready.However, awareness and adoption of specific climate- and pest-resistance traits remained limited, with many farmers continuing to rely on generic pesticides for crop protection.Also present at the event were FSII Director General Paresh Verma, Marion van Schaik, Counsellor for Agriculture at the Embassy of the Netherlands in New Delhi, and Dr Manish Diwan, GGM and Head of RDF at BIRAC.