India Forage Seed Market Analysis
The India Forage Seed Market size is estimated at USD 128.81 million in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 154.77 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 3.74% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
Rising consumer demand for milk, meat, and other animal products is increasing the need for high-quality feed. According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) report, India's fluid milk consumption is projected to reach 91 MMT in 2025, up from 89 MMT in 2024. The growing livestock population, particularly in dairy-focused regions, has led farmers to adopt improved forage seeds to enhance feed availability and quality, resulting in better animal productivity.
State and central government programs supporting agricultural productivity and sustainable practices have increased investment in forage seed research and development. The National Livestock Mission Scheme offers a 50% capital subsidy (up to Rs.50 Lac) for establishing fodder value addition units, including Hay/Silage/Total Mixed Ration (TMR) preparation, fodder block making, and storage facilities. Additional support through quality certification programs and extension services encourages farmers to adopt improved forage varieties that withstand local climatic conditions.
Progress in seed biotechnology, breeding techniques, and agronomic practices has produced forage seeds with enhanced yield potential, nutritional content, and resistance to pests and diseases. These improvements help address challenges from climate variability and resource limitations. In 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced 109 climate-resilient seed varieties, including seven forage crop seeds for maize, sorghum, oat, millet, and berseem.
India Forage Seed Market Trends
Growing Demand for Dairy, Egg and Meat Products
India's food economy is undergoing a significant transformation characterized by evolving dietary preferences and consumption patterns, particularly in the livestock products segment. The demand for meat products continues to demonstrate robust growth, primarily attributed to sustained economic expansion, increasing disposable income levels, and heightened consumer awareness regarding the nutritional benefits of meat consumption. In 2023, India achieved a substantial milestone in egg production, reaching 142.77 billion eggs, according to the Department of Animal Husbandry, with the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana emerging as the primary contributors to this growth.
In the meat production segment, India registered an output of 9.8 million metric tons, with the poultry sector dominating the production landscape by contributing 51% of the total volume. The per capita meat availability demonstrated notable improvement, increasing from 5.7 kg in 2016-17 to 7.1 kg in 2022-23 as reported by the animal husbandry statistics. This substantial expansion in animal production for meat and dairy requirements is anticipated to generate considerable demand for high-quality forage crops in the agricultural sector.
Cereals Forage Seeds Dominate the market
India cultivates major forage cereal crops including oats, maize, sorghum, and pearl millet across different states. Oats grow primarily in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, with varieties like Jawahar Oat 13-513 and Him Palam Forage Oat-1 providing high fodder yields. Maize cultivation occurs mainly in Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh, with high-yield hybrids such as Pusa Forage Maize Hybrid-1 and HQPM 28. According to FAOSTAT, in 2023, Sorghum spans 3.5 million hectares in India, with CSV 57F variety known for drought tolerance. Pearl millet grows predominantly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra due to its adaptability to arid conditions.
The government has introduced climate-resilient and biofortified varieties to increase productivity and enhance fodder availability for the livestock sector. Pusa Forage Maize Hybrid-1 (AFH-7), HQPM 28, CSV 57F (SPV 2801) (UTFS 111), Jawahar Oat 13-513 (JO- 13-513), and Him Palam Forage Oat-1 (PLP-24) are the 5 varieties developed by ICAR and released by Prime Minister of India in 2024. Cereal crops are primarily cultivated due to high demand from animal farms. These crops are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, oils, and proteins. In addition to cereal crops, berseem and lucerne are widely grown. Other minor fodder crops cultivated in India include metha, labia, and Kenji.
India Forage Seed Industry Overview
In the India forage seed market, companies are not only competing based on product quality and promotion but also focused on strategic moves to hold larger market shares. Major acquisitions are taking place between companies to expand the forage seed business. Foragen Seeds, Mangalam Seeds, Advanta Seeds Ltd, Shriram Seeds Pvt Ltd, and Mahyco Private Limited are the key players in the market.
India Forage Seed Market Leaders
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Foragenseeds
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Mangalam Seeds
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Advanta Seeds Ltd
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Mahyco Private Limited
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Shriram Seeds Pvt Ltd
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
India Forage Seed Market News
- August 2024: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research developed 109 seed varieties, including 7 forage varieties, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced. These varieties are high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified, aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and farmer income.
- June 2023: Advanta and Nurture Farm have teamed up to introduce the Nutrifeed Germination Scheme. This initiative is designed to shield farmers from financial setbacks stemming from the germination failures of forage crops, such as millet and sorghum. Under the scheme, seeds that don't germinate within 15 days of sowing are covered, bolstering farmers' resilience against environmental challenges. Beyond financial protection, the scheme champions sustainable farming practices and provides dairy farmers with access to high-yield, nutritious fodder.
India Forage Seed Industry Segmentation
Forages are plants or parts of plants eaten by herbivorous animals. The report covers the seed market of forage crops and the analysis of different types of forages. The market studied has been segmented, based on crop type (cereals, legumes, and grasses), product type (fresh forage and stored forage), and animal type (poultry, ruminants, swine, and others). The report offers the market size and forecasts in terms of value (USD) for all the above segments.
Crop Type | Cereals | Forage Corn | |
Forage Sorghum | |||
Other Cereals (Oats, Barley) | |||
Legumes | Alfafa | ||
Other Legumes (Berseem, Cowpeas) | |||
Grasses | |||
Product Type | Fresh Forage | ||
Stored Forage | Silage | ||
Hay | |||
Animal Type | Poultry | ||
Ruminants | |||
Swine | |||
Others (Equines, Camels) |
Cereals | Forage Corn |
Forage Sorghum | |
Other Cereals (Oats, Barley) | |
Legumes | Alfafa |
Other Legumes (Berseem, Cowpeas) | |
Grasses |
Fresh Forage | |
Stored Forage | Silage |
Hay |
Poultry |
Ruminants |
Swine |
Others (Equines, Camels) |
India Forage Seed Market Research Faqs
How big is the India Forage Seed Market?
The India Forage Seed Market size is expected to reach USD 128.81 million in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 3.74% to reach USD 154.77 million by 2030.
What is the current India Forage Seed Market size?
In 2025, the India Forage Seed Market size is expected to reach USD 128.81 million.
Who are the key players in India Forage Seed Market?
Foragenseeds, Mangalam Seeds, Advanta Seeds Ltd, Mahyco Private Limited and Shriram Seeds Pvt Ltd are the major companies operating in the India Forage Seed Market.
What years does this India Forage Seed Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the India Forage Seed Market size was estimated at USD 123.99 million. The report covers the India Forage Seed Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the India Forage Seed Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
Page last updated on: March 19, 2025
India Forage Seed Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 India Forage Seed market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligenceâ„¢ Industry Reports. India Forage Seed analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.