1) Sri Lanka relies heavily on imported seeds for many crops due to unfavorable climatic conditions for domestic production. However, imported seeds are often more expensive and less adapted to local conditions. 2) The seed production sector in Sri Lanka involves both public and private organizations, but production is mainly focused on rice and low country vegetables. 3) Reliance on imported seeds poses risks like seed monopoly by foreign companies, loss of biodiversity, development of pest resistance, and cross-pollination with non-GM crops. Solutions proposed include increasing local seed research and production.

1. Negative Impact of depend on
Foreign seeds and Future Sri Lankan
Agriculture
On behalf of Group: RM.NIKZAAD (B.Sc
in Agriculture in Resource
Management & Technology- Reading)
Faculty of Agriculture
University of Ruhuna.

2. Introduction
“Background of seed production sector in Sri
Lanka”
 Seed production process is a major program in agriculture. Because good
and quality seeds are very important to obtain healthy and high crop yield.
 But irregular supply of good and quality seeds is a major problem in Sri
Lanka.
 According to that both government sectors and private sectors are
engaged in seed production for full fill that requirement.
 Sri Lanka mainly produces low country vegetable seeds and paddy seeds in
own lands.
 But some seeds verities are imported from foreign countries for full fill
seed requirement in Sri Lanka.

3.  Because most of the up-country vegetable seeds cannot
be produced due to unfavorable climatic condition in Sri
Lanka.
 According to that seed production sectors such as
department of agriculture, provincial councils,
cooperatives, farmer organizations, farmer themselves
and private sector are play major role in agriculture
which is relevant to the seed production sector in Sri
Lanka.
 So, major seeds producing districts are Anuradhapura,
Kurunegala, Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy.

4. Current Status of Seed Production in
Sri Lanka
Background
• Until late 1980s, seed production in Sri Lanka was handled by
the government.
• Since 1984, the private sector started to import seeds, and
subsequently (in the 1990s) got into seed production.
• With more private sector involvement in seed production, the
government introduced the National Seed policy in 1996 to
ensure high quality of the seeds.
• Its main objective was to establish viable seed enterprises for
local farmers, and help them access high quality seeds and
planting materials.
• Yet this was not entirely successful and problems with regard
to seed quality began to emerge.

5. • So in 2003, the government enacted the seed act No 22 of 2003,
to regulate the quality of seed and planting materials, and to
safeguard farmers as well as the seed handler from malpractices
that would harm the seed industry of the country.
• Two institutions in the Department of Agriculture responsible for
seed production, marketing and distribution in the country.
 The seed certification and plant production center
(SCPPC)
Seed and planting material development center
• The main objective of the SCPPC is to promote seed industry
development and assure the quality of seeds and planting
materials.

6. Importation of seeds
• Private sector handles the importation and distribution of exotic vegetable
seeds such as beet, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, leeks, beans, lettuce etc.
• These seed materials are marketed after certification obtained from the
plant quarantine service and the seed certification service of the DoA.
• The imports of seeds costs the government over Rs. 1 billion annually.
• Sri Lanka annually imports potato, red and big onion and vegetables.
( especially upcountry vegetables) seeds worth Rs. 400 million from the US,
India, Netherland, Thailand, Pakistan, Germany and Japan.
Sri Lanka imports 10 000 Mt of highbred potato seeds worth Rs. 50
million mainly from Thailand and Japan.
75 Mt of vegetable seeds- Rs. 400 million from Netherlands
 35 Mt worth Rs. 35 million of big onion seeds from India.

7. • In addition Sri Lanka imports corn seeds and bean seeds from
the US, Germany and Pakistan.
• In Sri Lanka nearly 86 ha are registered for potato seed
production. Only 81% of that is accepted as ‘quality seed
production on area’.
• Vegetable seed production also at very minimum level.
• Private sector more imported hybrid vegetable varieties. In
2012 the total vegetable seed production was around 43 Mt.

8. LOCAL SEED PRODUCTION
1. Formal Seed Production
2. Self-seed Production

9. 1. Formal Seed Production
• The DOA supplies basic seeds to private sector and private sector has to
produce certified seeds according to the demand.
• Public sector formal seed production system is difficult to be maintained as a
subsidiary scheme, due to the financial crisis of the government.
• Therefore, privatization of the seed industry has occurred gradually.
• It is the best solution for seed shortage.
• Large scale companies like CIC,CADC, cooperatives, small-scale companies
and individual farmers are engaged in seed production extensively after the
new seed policy.
• Private sector farmers are profit oriented.
• They produce highly demanded varieties only, other crops are neglected.
• There can be seed shortage according to the crop variety and region.
• It is better to give subsidies to individual farmers and small-scale companies
for seed production to increase the regional level seed production.

10. 2. Self-Seed Production
• One of the major strategies used in many countries.
• Majority of farmers obtain their seeds requirements for paddy, OFCs, and
low country vegetables from informal sector.
• There should be separate programs to promote this vital sector by
providing technical know how and inputs.
• Shortage of seeds of low demand can be encompass by implementing the
proper self-seed production program.
• There are some seed production programs of the DOA in certain areas for
some crops like big onion, paddy etc.
• Another important informal seed contract basis seed production.

11. TYPES OF CERTIFIED SEED PRODUCE
UNDER CONTRACT
• Paddy
– 3 different age groups – 3m, 3.5m, 4-4.5m
– 23 varieties
• Other Field Crops
– 09 crops, 31 varieties
– Green gram, Black gram, Chilli, Cowpea, Sesame, Ground nut, Finger
Millet, Maize, Soybean
• Vegetables
– 17 crops, 42 varieties
– Beans, Bitter gourd, Brinjal, Bushitavo, Capsicum, Cucumber, Luffa,
Mae, Okra, Snake gourd, Pumpkin, Radish, Amaranthus, Winged bean,
Spinach, Melon

15. Factors and reasons for the problems
depend on foreign seeds
• 1.High cost.
• Foreign seeds are sometimes high cost. So have to spend more money
for that. That is negatively affect to the economy of the agriculture.
• 2.Not compatible with Sri Lankan climatic conditions.
• Sri Lankan climatic condition more differ from other countries climatic
conditions. So this is mostly affect to the seed germination and also pest
and disease attack.
• 3.People have very low knowledge.
• Sri Lankan people have less technical knowledge how to treat the seeds
and growing methods.
• 4.Less preference to accept foreign seeds.
• Most people foreign seeds acceptance is low because they fear to take
risk.
• 5.Unintended pest distribution.
• Some pest can be spread suddenly due to these foreign seeds.

16. 6. Rules and regulations of Sri Lankan government.
Due to poor rules and regulations in Sri Lanka, that allow companies
effective monopolies in seed imports are hurting farmers and producers.
7. Reduce the demand of Sri Lankan seed market.
The guidelines issued severely competition in the seed market. They
restrict the right to import a particular seed variety to a single company.
8.Germination problems.
Some seeds are not germinate at second time growing due to some
climatic conditions and transportation activities.
9.Purerity is go down.
Some time other debris can be mix with this.
10.Disease distribution.
Some seeds having infected germs.

19. • Agriculture began to become industrialized after beginning
of the 1950 s & intensified in the 1960.
• As a result the production prosses became mechanized &
rationalized.
• In many regions of the world the so called as ’‘Green
Revolution’’ that was introduces with the aim of increasing
crop yield significantly & warding off a crisis of widespread
food insecurity.
• To comply with these new modes, the farmers needed to
became larger & preform more specialized task.
• According to that, specific market for stockbreeding, seeds,
animal feed, fertilizer & pesticides emerged.
• Farmers no longer produce their crops autonomously.
• Theses are the major factors that’s why farmers were more
adopted for the foreign seeds than local conventional seed
& crops.

20. Negative impacts of depend on
foreign seeds
• Seeds are the worldwide, basic material for food production.
• There are two ways for farmers to access the seeds.
– Storing them from one year to the next year & exchanging
them locally.
– Some commercial system that market ‘’improved seeds’’
are certified by regulatory authorities.
• The second one is a complicated development, combining
capitalism & also some disadvantages of globalism which
especially affects poor, small scale farmers.
• The seed market is threatened by international seed
companies which pressure the seed sector with the aim of
privatizing & monopolizing it.

21. 01. SEED MONOPOLY MARKET
• Year by year farmers are losing the seeds from their own plants & they
herd with high performing seeds gain much greater crop yield with
high resistance to pest as well as efficiently & effectively harvested
with machines.
• So they are forced to purchase the seeds from seed providers.
• The seed industry is more concentrated today than it ever was before
due to privatization & monopoly market for the seeds.
• The 10 largest seed corporations dominate 2/3 of the total commercial
seed market.
• The top 3 of these are ‘’Monsanto (27%), Dupont (17%) &
Syngenta(9%)’’. This 3 corporations represent more than 53% of the
seed market.
• Agricultural mega corporations like Monsanto responsible for seeds as
well as providers of the pesticides that accompany the seeds what they
sell.
• So both seeds & pesticides are aimed at raking in the greatest possible
profit.

22. The fatal of hybrid seeds
• The first harvest of hybrid varieties with the optimal
irrigation, fertilizers & pesticides, yield may increases
by 15-30% than local yield.
• But the second generation of these seeds dose not
same thing instead if develops in to a multitude of
plant form.
• Therefore replanting of hybrid seeds is not possible &
farmers are forced to repurchase seeds in every
season.
• So finally the business is protected & engineered in to
very product they sell.

23. ENTAILS DEATHLY EFFECTS
• It is apparent the globalization of seeds has not benefited
to small scale farmers.
• It is estimated that in 2009 alone some 17368 Indian
farmers killed them selves.
• In Sri Lanaka the same satiation was raised.
• The main cause for this deaths or despair is attributed to
drought. Because privatization of seeds mean higher cost &
GM seeds also have higher water requirements, high
sensitive for fertilizers.
• So on top of the drought & falling the crop due to poor
water supply.
• Also farmers have to deal with expensive inputs such as
fertilizers & pesticides.
• The point that the farmers unable to bear with these some
farmers choose to take their own life.

24. 02. BIODIVERSITY UNDER THREAT
• As a result of a monopolized seed economy & the limited
engineering of seeds varieties the overall loss of plant
diversity has significantly increased.
• many regional species disappear due to the focusing of
industrial agriculture on only a few sorts.
• Over the course of the 20t century, according to the FAO
approximately 75% of crop diversity has been lost.
– Example: before green revolution in India there were
roughly 50 000 rice verities & within 20 years this
number dropped to 40 varieties.

25. • Diversity entails countless genetic characteristics which may
serve as viable option to be grown under climate change.
• Currently our climatic conditions are drastically changing.
According to that changes either our agricultural practices or
plants what we are plant should be change.
• In this situation If climate conditions change it may be that an
old variety of plant might be more suitable.
– Example: in 1970 a large number of rice harvest in India
were destroyed by a virus but near 6273 rice varieties that
protected from this virus were belonged to old varieties.
Means naturally this varieties have some resistance for this
virus.

26. Environmental concerns
03. DEVELOP OF RESIST WEED & INSECTS
• Farmers may worry that their use of GM seeds
will create ‘’Super weeds’’ or ‘’Super bugs’’
that become resists to GM seeds, crops & to
other herbicides or pesticides.

27. • Gene movement from crop to weed through pollen transfer caused to
provide super weeds.
• Similarly insects have developed resistance to pesticides.
• Example: A recent study documented a deceased susceptibility in pest
to the use of Bt as a sprayed pesticide.
• Despite the fact that the genes being transferred occur naturally in
other species, there are unknown consequences to altering the natural
state of an organism through ‘’foreign gene expression’’.
• This alterations can change the organism's metabolism, growth rate,
and/or response to external environmental factors
• These consequences influence not only the GMO itself, but also the
natural environment in which that organism is allowed to proliferate.
• Horizontal gene transfer of pesticide, herbicide, or antibiotic
resistance to other organisms would not only put humans at risk.
• it would also cause ecological imbalances, allowing previously
innocuous plants to grow uncontrolled, thus promoting the spread of
disease among both plants and animals.
• All these are caused to reduce the natural bio diversity in significant
amount.

28. 04. DIFFICULT TO PRESERVING THE
IDENTITY ON NON- GM CROPS
• Potential cross pollination from GM seeded crops to non-GM
crops is also a concern.
• The farmers who cultivate non-GM crops certified their crops
as non-GM or organic crops.
• But there is evident that such cross pollination is already
occur.
• Plant with GM characters have been found in conventional
crops that have been grown using only organic farming
practices.
– Example: Found evidence of cross pollination in both corn
& soybean crops.

29. 05. IDENTITY PRESERVATION FROM FIELD TO MARKET
• Another concern is farmers who are not currently planting GM crops are
preserving the identity of their non-GM crops until move from farm to market.
• Currently bulk agricultural trading facilities are not able to separate GM crops
from traditional crops.
• The importance of this identity preservation of non-GM agricultural crops was
highlighted, recently when star link corn that was found in taco shells that
distributed through a national company used by the brewing industry.
• But star link corn has not been approved for human consumption.
06. HARM TO OTHER ORGANISM
• Another concern is possible harm of GM seeds & crops to other
beneficial organisms.
• Example: Gene contained within Bt corn can be harmful to the larvae
of a monarch butterfly when windblown on to milkweed leaves.

30. Concern in marketing GM & non-GM
products
07. POTENTIAL LOSS OF DOMESTIC MARKET DUE TO
UNCERTAINTIES.
• Although the domestic market has generally responded
positively to GM products, farmers fear that the uncertain
effects of the products many ‘’spook’’ domestic consumers.
• This uncertainty is grounded in the public perception that
GM crops pose a hidden health risk to humans.
• The largest threat is the presence of unknown allergens in
the GM food supply.
• As well as the transfer of antibiotic-resistant genes to gut
flora & antibiotic resistance may be arises.

31. Current problems with international market
08. Gm crops are not universally accepted
throughout the international market.
09. Trading blocs such as European Union(EU)
have banned the import of crops/seeds with
inserted genes.
concern about human health & the environment

32. Solutions and Suggestions
• Some seed research stations are already located in different
parts of the country like Mahailuppallama, Palwehera,
Gannaoruwa etc. But better to establish some more to
increase the accessibility and to facilitate distribution seeds
throughout the country.
• New technology(Seed invigoration treatment) must be
introduced to these centers in order to optimize the
research works related to seeds.
• Implement different researches on production of new
improved hybrid seeds inside the country instead of
depending on foreign countries.
• Regularize the formal seed production inside the country
instead of informal seed production and provide
opportunities to locally reputed organizations and companies
for quality seed production and distribution.

33. • By using proper agricultural extension methods,
provide sufficient knowledge to farmers about the seed
production and seed utilization. As well as provide
them with proper knowledge about different seed
treatment methods in order to optimize the seed
utilization and to ensure quality of product.
• Introduce appropriate mechanisms for seed
storage(Environment) under good hygienic conditions.
• Provide credit and subsidy facilities for buying seeds for
the farmers and implement procurement policies
among sellers for importation.
• Build up a platform(Mobile App, market) between
seeds producers and farmers.
• Introduce buy-back system.

34. References
 www.fao.org > presentation (PDF)
 https://www.mordorintelligence.com
• https://www.adb.org
• www.dailymirror.lk
• https://www.ippc.int
• www.stylecraze.com
• www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
• www.sciencedirect.com
• www.rhs.org.uk