Breeding varieties and seed production chain of minor cereals in India: Status and strategies

Minor cereals such as barley and small millets contributed 1.13–1.73 1.95–2.78% to the total production acreage, respectively, during 2010–11 2020–21. The present study analyses trends in area, yield (2010–11 2020–21); breeding varieties seed chain of minor 2021–22. Barley acreage ranged between 7.0 lakh ha (2010–11, 2012–13) 5.9 (2019–20), registering a decline 18.6%. Production showed an increase from 3.8% (2011–12) 17.3% (2013–14) this period except for 2015–16, when declined by 7.9% over 2010–11. changes finger millet 2020–21 were -11.0%, +3.6% +1.1%, respectively. Other (kodo millet, barnyard foxtail proso little millet) declining pattern since 8.0 4.4 2020–21, reduction about 45.0% consequently 21.5%. Nevertheless, yield/ha increased 41.2% reached 781 kg (2020–21) 553 (2010–11). Of 135 high yielding climate resilient developed 2011–23, 107 released notified 2016–22 only 39 inducted until Breeder foundation was always higher than indent/demand under analysis. Seed requirement has also been worked out considering multiplication ratio, replacement rate (SRR) highest suggested action plan enhance these crops through seed/variety replacement.