In a significant digital shift, the National Seeds Corporation (NSC) has started selling seeds online through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform. This move is poised to revolutionize access to high-quality seeds for farmers across India, enhancing efficiency and convenience. The collaboration between NSC, a government enterprise under the Ministry of Agriculture, and ONDC, a government-backed e-commerce platform, marks a critical step toward modernizing agricultural supply chains and empowering farmers with better tools for productivity.
Seamless Access to Quality Seeds
NSC, responsible for producing and distributing certified seeds across the country, has taken a proactive step by joining the ONDC platform to expand its reach. Traditionally, farmers faced challenges in procuring quality seeds, often relying on local markets or distributors where seed quality and authenticity could be compromised. With NSC now offering its certified seeds online, farmers can access verified seeds directly, ensuring better crop yields and reducing dependency on middlemen.
“It was never tried before because NSC was content with business as usual. However, the customers’ expressed interest indicates that there is a large market to be tapped. People know that the seeds are genuine because NSC is a government company, and there will be no cheating even if they buy online.”
Digital Sales: A Growing Trend in Agriculture
The inclusion of NSC seeds on the ONDC platform reflects the growing trend of digitalization in the agricultural sector. According to a recent report, India’s agrotech startup market is expected to grow to $24 billion by 2025, with a significant portion driven by e-commerce solutions. By enabling farmers to buy seeds through digital platforms, NSC is tapping into this growing market and ensuring farmers have access to the best inputs for their crops.
The global seed market was valued at approximately USD 61.2 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach around USD 107.8 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 6.5% from 2022 to 2030. The global demand for certified seeds is driven by increasing awareness of quality inputs and the push for higher agricultural productivity.
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The Indian seed market is projected to be valued at USD 3.61 billion in 2024, making it the 5th largest globally, according to NSAI estimates. It is expected to grow to USD 5.01 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.58% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2030. NSC’s collaboration with ONDC is part of a broader strategy to improve seed distribution and availability in remote regions. The organizations like NSC are playing a pivotal role in supplying seeds for various crops, including wheat, rice, pulses, oilseeds, and horticultural plants.
ONDC: Democratizing E-Commerce for Agriculture
The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform was launched to democratize digital commerce in India by creating an open, interoperable network that supports multiple e-commerce platforms and services. For farmers, this means more choices and competitive pricing, while for suppliers like NSC, it provides a broader reach to rural and remote areas that may have limited physical access to certified seeds.
By joining ONDC, NSC aims to increase the accessibility of quality seeds for over millions of Indian farmers. The platform’s user-friendly interface allows farmers to compare prices, read reviews, and place orders directly from their mobile phones, further reducing the digital divide in agriculture.
Impact on Farmers and Agricultural Productivity
One of the critical factors affecting agricultural productivity in India is the availability of high-quality inputs, especially seeds. Research indicates that the use of certified seeds can improve crop yields by 15-25% compared to non-certified seeds. With NSC making certified seeds available online, farmers can now make more informed decisions, select seeds that are best suited to their region’s climate and soil conditions, and ultimately improve their overall productivity.
The impact is expected to be particularly significant for smallholder farmers, who make up 86% of India’s farming population. Traditionally, these farmers had limited access to quality seeds due to geographic and financial constraints. With NSC’s seeds available on ONDC, smallholder farmers can now order small quantities of certified seeds, ensuring affordability and access.
Simplifying the Supply Chain and Reducing Costs
Another benefit of NSC’s online seed sales through ONDC is the simplification of the agricultural supply chain. Traditionally, the distribution of seeds involved multiple intermediaries, leading to increased costs and occasional seed adulteration. By allowing farmers to order seeds directly, NSC is eliminating several layers in the supply chain, reducing costs, and ensuring that the seeds delivered are genuine and certified.
This direct-to-farmer approach also cuts down on the time it takes for seeds to reach farmers. Instead of waiting for seeds to arrive through local distributors, farmers can now place their orders online and receive deliveries more quickly, allowing them to sow their crops on time and reduce delays in the planting season.
A Step Towards Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability
The move to sell seeds online also aligns with India’s broader goals of achieving self-sufficiency in agriculture and promoting sustainable farming practices. Certified seeds are not only more productive but are often bred to be more resistant to pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical inputs and contributing to more environmentally friendly farming practices.
With the government actively promoting digital solutions for agriculture through initiatives like Digital India and AgriStack, NSC’s collaboration with ONDC is expected to pave the way for other agro-input suppliers to adopt similar models. This could lead to a more connected and efficient agricultural ecosystem, where farmers have seamless access to high-quality inputs, cutting-edge technology, and real-time market data.
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Digital Agriculture Ecosystem
As NSC continues to expand its digital presence on ONDC, the next steps may include offering more variety in seeds and possibly integrating other agricultural services such as advisory services, soil testing, and crop management tools. Experts believe that as more farmers adopt digital platforms for purchasing seeds and other inputs, India’s agricultural productivity could witness a substantial increase, helping the country achieve its goal of becoming an agricultural powerhouse.
This initiative is expected to address one of the most critical challenges in Indian agriculture – timely and reliable access to seeds. With NSC leveraging ONDC’s robust digital framework, the government aims to streamline the agricultural supply chain, reduce delays, and bring efficiency to the seed distribution process. It also aligns with the Digital India mission, which seeks to integrate digital technologies into all aspects of life, including farming.
The partnership between NSC and ONDC sets a promising precedent for the future of agriculture in India, where digital platforms play a central role in empowering farmers and driving sustainable growth.