Seeds & Planting Material — NFSNM Seed Components (formerly SMSP)
Funded in the 2026-27 Union Budget: Output Outcome Monitoring Framework 2026-27 (Union Budget) (undated, 5. Krishionnati Yojana (CSS), financial outlay 2026-27 ₹11,200 crore; component b. National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (of which the Seed Components are part, per NFSNM Guidelines 2025-26 p.6))
Help to make good seed of new varieties reach farmers: half the cost of certified seed, and grants for village seed processing and storage units run by FPOs.
- Lead benefit
- ₹1,000per quintal of seed, at most
- Components
- 8each read from the document
- Who can apply
- 7kinds of applicant
- Closing date
- Noneapply any time
What it pays
Half the cost of certified seed of a new variety, up to a per-quintal limit, for 1 hectare.
What the document says, word for word
Only notified varieties or hybrids up to 10 years old; truthfully labelled seed does not qualify. The same farmer is not repeated for two years. The Table-B note says the implementing agency may not claim assistance on this certified seed from any other State or Central scheme.
“Financial assistance of 50% or as decided by Seed Division, DA&FW, GoI (whichever is less) (Table-B) is available for distribution of Certified Seed to farmers.”50% of the cost of a 500-tonne seed processing plant and godown at Gram Panchayat level, up to ₹40 lakh — for FPOs and multi-state cooperatives only.
What the document says, word for word
Only FPOs and Multi-State Cooperatives actively producing seed, with at least 2 years’ experience. The plant must handle 500 tonnes a year at 1 tonne an hour, with a 500-tonne godown. Land and its registration are not funded, and the agency must use the SATHI portal.
“Maximum assistance per unit is 50% for the complete setup cost limited to Rs. 40 Lakh. The rest amount will be borne by the agency.”Half the cost of breeder seed of a variety notified in the last 5 years, for a seed grower producing foundation seed.
What the document says, word for word
You must be a registered seed grower (an individual or an organisation) on your own or leased land, supplied by an eligible public agency (State Agriculture Department, State Seed Corporation, NSC, national seed agencies, SAUs, CAUs, ICAR institutes, KVKs, seed hubs); at most 5 hectares per seed grower, and the same grower is not to be repeated every year. Everything is recorded on the SATHI portal. Cereals, coarse cereals, pulses, fibres and fodder crops only. The agency must pass the assistance on to you as it is (iv). You cannot take both breeder- and foundation-seed help in the same season.
“Financial assistance of 50% on the Breeder Seed cost (100% GoI Share) decided by Seed Division, DA&FW, GoI, is available for distribution of Breeder Seed of newly released varieties/hybrids which are ≤5 years old (from the date of notification) to seed growers for foundation seed production (Table-B).”Half the cost of foundation seed of a variety notified in the last 8 years, up to a per-quintal limit, for a seed grower producing certified seed.
What the document says, word for word
You must be a registered seed grower (an individual or an organisation) on your own or leased land, supplied by an eligible public agency (State Agriculture Department, State Seed Corporation, NSC, national seed agencies, SAUs, CAUs, ICAR institutes, KVKs, seed hubs); at most 5 hectares per seed grower, and the same grower is not to be repeated every year. Everything is recorded on the SATHI portal. Help is given once, for either Foundation Seed-I or II of a variety.
“Financial assistance of 50% on Foundation Seed cost (100% GoI) decided by the seed producing agency or as decided by Seed Division, DA&FW, GoI (whichever is less) (Table-B) is available for distribution of Foundation Seed only for the purpose of certified seed production to seed growers (which may be a seed grower or an organization) of newly released varieties/hybrids which are ≤8 years old (from the date of notification).”Half the seed-inspection (certification) charges you pay on seed grown from breeder or foundation seed under this component, up to ₹400 a hectare.
What the document says, word for word
Only for inspection charges on seed grown from the breeder or foundation seed distributed under this component (iv), and that seed is given for at most 5 hectares per seed grower (Breeder Seeds (v), Foundation Seeds (v)) — so we count at most 5 hectares. Covers both foundation and certified seed production.
“The maximum assistance available will be upto 50% or maximum of Rs. 400/hectare (whichever is less) on inspection charges taken from Seed Growers or Agencies (for the seed production taken on their own farms).”Half the cost of seed of a registered traditional variety, to grow and multiply it.
What the document says, word for word
Only for the 10–15 traditional varieties (grown for over 50 years) that your state identifies and PPV&FRA registers, through the State Agriculture Department, State Seed Corporation or SAU (component 4). Production is recorded on the SATHI portal.
“This assistance will cover 50% of the seed cost and will be shared between the central and state governments. The maximum assistance available will be equivalent to the assistance provided for foundation seed, as outlined in Table-B.”₹1,000 a quintal for seed you produce of a registered traditional cereal or millet variety.
What the document says, word for word
Only for the 10–15 traditional varieties (grown for over 50 years) that your state identifies and PPV&FRA registers, through the State Agriculture Department, State Seed Corporation or SAU (component 4). Production is recorded on the SATHI portal.
“Seed production incentives are available @ Rs.1000 per quintal for Cereals, Millets, and Minor Millets, and @ Rs.2000 per quintal for Oilseeds and Pulses.”₹2,000 a quintal for seed you produce of a registered traditional pulse or oilseed variety.
What the document says, word for word
Only for the 10–15 traditional varieties (grown for over 50 years) that your state identifies and PPV&FRA registers, through the State Agriculture Department, State Seed Corporation or SAU (component 4). Production is recorded on the SATHI portal.
“Seed production incentives are available @ Rs.1000 per quintal for Cereals, Millets, and Minor Millets, and @ Rs.2000 per quintal for Oilseeds and Pulses.”How much can I claim?
Your rate 50% of the eligible cost
Table-B caps the help per quintal: paddy and wheat ₹2,000; barley, maize, sorghum, bajra, ragi and small millets ₹3,000; arhar, urd, moong, cowpea, gram, lentil, peas, rajmash, moth, horse-gram and lathyrus ₹5,000; cotton ₹9,000; berseem ₹10,000; lucerne ₹15,000 — and only for 1 hectare per farmer. We have not entered seed rates per hectare, so we show the rate only.
Who can apply
- Other farmer
- Small or marginal farmer
- SC farmer
- ST farmer
- Woman farmer
- FPO
- Cooperative
Papers you need
- For the seed unit: proof that the agency has the land and manpower — land cost is not funded (component 6, Eligibility (ii))
How to apply
- Certified seed with assistance is sold through the State Agriculture Department, State Seed Corporations, NSC and other listed public seed agencies (Implementing Agencies, p.58). Ask your block or district agriculture office.
- Every seed distribution is recorded on the SATHI portal (Assistance on Certified Seeds, (vii)).
- For a Gram Panchayat seed processing and storage unit, an eligible FPO or multi-state cooperative applies through the State Department of Agriculture, which passes on the grant (component 6, Pattern of Assistance).
Applying is free. Never pay anyone to apply for you.
When to apply
The guidelines set no closing date.
Combining with other schemes
The documents do not say whether this can be combined with other schemes. Ask the implementing office before you count on both.