In challenging times and as India’s first organic seed producer, bioRe India supplies its own seeds to its farmers
“It is a great moment for us to enter the seed production and distribution phase with our farmers and be the first to do so in the organic sector in India,” says Vivek Kumar Rawal, CEO of bioRe India.
Despite challenging circumstances in the central Indian state of Madhyapradesh, seed distribution and distribution of the annual calendar of activities to smallholder farmers is underway at bioRe India.
Summer sowing will start from 25 May and continue until the next rains. Rain sowing will start as soon as there is enough rainfall for sowing. We estimate that the monsoon will arrive around 15 June this year.
bioRe India issues an annual advisory and annual calendar for farmers, called “Bio-Practica”. This gives the farmers a useful overview of the tasks to be accomplished over the year, which each farmer analyses for himself.
First germination tests of own seeds go well
Initial germination tests carried out with the own seeds produced by bioRe India show good results with a germination rate over 90-95%.
Years of testing and trials on GMO-free seed production and cultivation have made bioRe India a specialist in the organic seed sector in India. Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) has highlighted bioRe India’s expertise in the context of developing the newly published guideline for GMO-free seed production.
Commenting on the guidelines, Vivek Rawal, CEO & Director at bioRe India, said: “Each Indian Farm Group has long been seeking its own remedy for one and the same challenge: procuring reliable non-GM seed for their farmers.”
OCA is very grateful for the input and feedback from technical experts and Indian seed producers, such as bioRe India, who contributed to the development of these guidelines.
