Snapshot

There has been an increase in hybrid seed penetration in multiple crops, in order to address the rising food demand-supply mismatch in the country. Due to stagnant growth observed in the arable land and a constantly increasing population, the per capita arable land has been declining. These factors, along with poor crop productivity, are likely to lead to pressure on food supply in the country.

In India, hybrid seed penetration is high in cotton (90%), corn (60%), limited cereals, such as sorghum and pearl millet, and oilseeds, such as sunflower (hybridization 80%). However, penetration is still very low in major cereals, such as paddy and wheat (5%). Cotton hybridization is almost reaching saturation, as Bt cotton is sown over 90% of the cotton-producing area in the country. Hybridizations in corn, paddy, and vegetables are estimated to drive the sector’s growth during the forecast period.

The patenting process in India is not very vigorous, enabling other companies to replicate better performing seeds in the marketplace. In addition, after the discovery of a successful hybrid, seed multiplication needs many rounds of sowing. Therefore, the availability of a large land bank or access to a large dedicated network of seed growers acts as a major entry barrier for smaller seed companies, as the lack of such a network may delay the process of market expansion for them.