Dr. Sherry Rachel Jacob, Principal Scientist at the ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, and a core team member of the CGIAR Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA)-funded research projects “Dynamics of Agricultural Innovation in North India” and “Dynamics of Agricultural Innovation in South India,” and Dr. Manoj Kumar Patel, Research Associate at ICAR-NBPGR, visited the National Seed Corporation (NSC), the National Seed Association of India (NSAI) and the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council-National Institute of Plant Genome Research (BRIC-NIPGR), New Delhi, during August 18–20, 2026. The projects are being implemented by the Foundation for Agrarian Studies (FAS) in collaboration with Monash University, Australia, and ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi.
The primary objectives of the visits were to obtain state-wise information from NSC and NSAI on breeder seed indent of varieties developed in collaboration with CGIAR centres in India, and to explore the feasibility and technical requirements for a biophysical study on wheat at NIPGR.
During the visit to NSC, the team held detailed discussions with Dr. Krushna Chandra Sahoo, Director (Commercial), Dr. Moushumi Sarkar Kundu, Manager (Quality Control), and Dr. Babita Sharma, Assistant General Manager (Production). The officials provided valuable information on the process of breeder seed indenting and production by NSC.
At NSAI, the team interacted with Dr. Deepanker Pandey, Deputy Director, and Dr. Aashima Batheja, Research Associate. They provided detailed insights into the seed system operating through various private seed companies and the role of NSAI in facilitating and coordinating the seed industry.
At BRIC-NIPGR, the team held a detailed technical discussion with Dr. Swarup K. Parida, Scientist-V, regarding the biophysical study proposed on wheat as part of the project. Dr. Parida provided detailed information on the genotyping platforms available at the National Genomics and Genotyping Facility, BRIC-NIPGR. The team also discussed the scope for future collaborations with NIPGR.
Here are a few glimpses from the visit…
