High Yielding Variety Seeds

HYV full form in agriculture is High Yielding Variety. High Yielding Varieties Seeds (HYV seeds) are of higher quality than ordinal quality seeds. The yield from these seeds is slightly higher than from regular seeds. These seeds are a better choice for producing a healthy and abundant harvest. The HYV seeds have a strong immune system that helps them battle insects and infections. Another advantage of these seeds is that they require very little irrigation. These seeds were instrumental in the development of India's green revolution. Special emphasis has been placed on the development and broad adoption of high-yielding seed varieties under the new agricultural policy. Though the government had been working to improve seed quality since the beginning of the planning process in the country, the adoption of the new agricultural strategy in the Kharif season of 1966 provided the true push to these efforts. During the mid-1960s, Prof. Norman BorIaug and his team in Mexico created new wheat varieties that were early-maturing, highly productive, and disease resistant, and these kinds were imported and planted in chosen areas of India with suitable irrigation facilities. Within a year of its introduction, it was proved that the new kinds' yields exceeded traditional types' yields by 25 to 100 percent. The coverage in the HYV area was set at 70 million hectares in the Seventh Plan. In contrast, by the end of the Seventh Plan, the actual area under HYV was only 63.1 million hectares. The coverage increased to 78.4 million hectares in 1998-99.

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Image of different high yield varieties.

What is HYV Seed?

High Yielding Variety Seeds (HYV seeds) have a high yielding capacity and are resistant to insects and illnesses. These seeds are of higher grade and are a superior choice for plentiful and healthy crop output. The Green Revolution in India was aided greatly by high-yielding seed varieties. High yielding seeds are more flood and drought tolerant and produce higher quality yields. The high yielding scheme was introduced in selected locations with guaranteed rainfall during the Kharif season of 1966.

What Does HYV Stand For?

High Yielding Variety is a full form of HYV seeds. Modern agricultural inputs, such as High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, are used in commercial farming. These are employed to increase production.

Development of High Yield Crops in India

In India, the Industrial Revolution dramatically changed agriculture and resulted in considerable changes. People who worked in agriculture moved to the city to work in manufacturing. As a result, fewer individuals were needed to produce more crops to obtain a larger number of consumers. The central and state governments fostered the production of high-yielding crops and better seed varieties. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Punjab Agricultural University (Ludhiana), and G.B. Pant Agricultural University (Pantnagar) were also involved in producing and importing novel hybrid varieties that met the needs of Indian farmers. A variety of agricultural practices are required to produce increased crop yields. The selection and development of genetically superior cultivars are one of the most essential criteria. Plants may be developed to have certain features thanks to advances in genetics. These favourable characteristics have arisen as a result of mutation and can be transmitted from one plant to another using recombinant DNA technology.

Seed Sector in India

In India, there are two national-level corporations, the National Seeds Corporation (NSC) and the State Farms Corporation of India (SFCI), 13 state seed corporations (SSCs), and around 100 large private sector seed corporations. There are 22 State Seed Certification Agencies (SSCAs) and 101 State Seed Testing Laboratories for quality control and certification (SSTLs). Even though the private sector has begun to play a considerable role in the production and distribution of seeds, particularly since the implementation of the New Seed Policy in 1988, the public sector continues to dominate the organised seed sector, notably for food crops and cereals. In terms of certified/quality seeds, the number of quintals distributed increased from 25 lakh in 1980-81 to 277.3 lakh in 2010-11. Unfortunately, the seeds revolution of the 1960s and 1970s appears to have petered out after solely impacting cereals. Improved seed technology is still avoiding important areas of the agricultural economy, such as pulses, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables. As a result, to meet domestic demand, the country must import approximately 2 million tonnes of edible oils and about a million tonnes of pulses each year. Because of the findings, the National Seeds Policy of 2001 establishes a framework for the seed sector's expansion.

High Yield Crops- Advantages and Disadvantages of India

Advantages of High Yield Crops :

Due to their unique characteristics, high yield crops provide several advantages. The following are some of the benefits:

1. Crop yields are higher and better.

2. Since many high-yield crops are dwarf, their plants are better and have a stronger ability to withstand strong winds.

3. High yield crops respond well to fertilisers, resulting in a significant rise in production rate.

4. Maturation in its early stages.

Disadvantages of High Yield Crops

Although high yield crops are known for their high yielding ability, they also have significant drawbacks:

1. In comparison to traditional crop kinds, high yield crops demand more water and fertiliser.

2. Land preparation is required regularly.

3. Pesticides are used regularly.

4. When compared to older varieties, high yield crops are often more sensitive to diseases.

HYV Seeds Examples

Crops that produce high-quality seeds are known as HYV. The following are the HYV seeds examples, Paddy, Wheat, Maize, Jowar, Bajra, and other crops that used HYV seeds to cover a wide area in a short amount of time. The HYV plants are created by crossing parent plants with characteristics such as high seed production, disease resistance, drought tolerance, salt-resistance, and water stress resistance.

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Image of HYV seeds.

The Green Revolution of India

In 1965, the first High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds were introduced into Indian agriculture, kicking off the Green Revolution. To improve the harvest, this was combined with better and more effective irrigation and the proper use of fertilisers. The Green Revolution's ultimate goal was to make India self-sufficient in food grains. After 1947, India's economy had to be rebuilt. Agriculture supported more than three-quarters of the population. However, India's agriculture has several issues. To begin with, grain productivity was quite poor. And, due to a lack of irrigation and other infrastructure, India was still reliant on the monsoon. There was also no modern technology present. And India had previously experienced terrible famines as a result of the British Raj's focus on cash crops rather than food crops. The goal was to never have to rely on another country for food. So, in 1965, the government began the Green Revolution with the help of Indian geneticist M.S. Swaminathan, known as the "Father of the Green Revolution." The movement was a big success and lasted from 1967 through 1978.

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Image of Green revolution in India.

Impact of Green Revolution of India

• Increase in Per Acre Yield

The Green Revolution not only increased total agricultural output but also increased yield per hectare. Wheat yield per hectare had risen from 850 kg/hectare to an incredible 2281 kg/hectare by 1990.

• Less Dependence on Imports

After the green revolution, India was finally on its way to self-reliance. There was now enough production to meet the needs of the populace as well as to establish a reserve in case of an emergency. We didn't have to import wheat or rely on the food supply of other countries. India was able to begin exporting farm goods and besides.

• Increase in Agricultural Production

The production of foodgrains in India has increased dramatically. It was a significant increase. Wheat Grain was the largest winner from the scheme. Wheat production increased from only 11 million tonnes in 1960 to 55 million tonnes in 1990.

• Employment

It was feared that commercial farming would lead to the unemployment of a large portion of the labour. On the other side, rural employment has increased. This is because the supporting industries provided job possibilities. Irrigation, transportation, food processing, and marketing all contributed to the workforce's number of jobs.

• A Benefit to the Farmers

Farmers benefited is very good from the Green Revolution. Their earnings significantly increased. They weren't just surviving; they were flourishing. It allowed them to move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

High Yielding Varieties Seeds (HYV seeds) are seeds of higher quality than ordinal quality seeds. The yield from these seeds is slightly higher than from regular seeds. These seeds were instrumental in the development of India's green revolution during the mid-1960s. The seed sector in India is still dominated by the public sector.