Integrated Seed Systems for Sustainable Food, Feed and Fodder Security in Semi-Arid Tropics of India

Seed is the most important input component for productive agriculture. A we I I-functioning seed system is defined as one that uses the appropriate combination of formal, informal, market and non-market channels to efficiently meet farmers 'demand for quality seeds. The fact that a hulk of rural livelihoods are drawn from crop~U\ estock sector and that crop residues are the main stay for animal feeding reflect the importance of crop agriculture not only from food production point of view' but poverty reduction as well A majority of livestock kept by rural households is well integrated into the prevailing crop systems. In low rainfall dry land agriculture areas, food feed cetral, millet and legume crops are the main sources of income and food for farmers besides fodder for their animals. Farmers 'demandfor seeds, particularly' those of poor farmers therefore depend on multiple criteria. Given the critical role that improved varieties play in increasing the conventional crop production, a key question is how to facilitate tin-development of an integrated seed system that is capable of generating, producing and distributing improved seed varieties that meet the needs of resource atui resource-poor farmers in a cost-effecti\ r way The study is an attempt to review and document the existing seed multiplication and delivery systems in four dry land agriculture districts of Andhra Pradesh namely Anantapun Kumool, Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda. Analyzing the problems associated with different seed systems in the Districts, the paper makes a case for alternati\ e seed systems that address the needs and i •uinerabiiities of sttuillfarmers