India Seed Market Size and Share

India Seed Market Summary
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India Seed Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The India seed market size stands at USD 3.82 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 5.00 billion by 2030, reflecting a forecast CAGR of 5.55%. Sustained policy support, rising certified‐seed penetration, and expanding climate‐smart varieties continue to anchor industry resilience. Government programs such as the National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds and the Clean Plant Program are fast-tracking premium seed adoption by funding disease-free planting material hubs, demonstration plots, and village-level clusters. Row crops dominate revenue because cereals, oilseeds, and fiber crops align with food-security and import-substitution priorities, while hybrids retain farmer loyalty thanks to consistent yield premiums under erratic rainfall. Meanwhile, protected cultivation and digital traceability pilots are opening lucrative niches for specialized vegetable and high-value seed segments. Competitive intensity is low because multinational pipelines compete with regionally adapted portfolios, yet counterfeit trade and GM regulatory uncertainty exert margin pressure.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By breeding technology, hybrids commanded 70.1% of India's seed market share in 2024, and hybrids are set to advance at a 5.68% CAGR through 2030.
  • By cultivation mechanism, Open Field accounted for a 99.8% share of the India seed market size in 2024, and protected cultivation seeds are forecast to expand at an 11.08% CAGR between 2025 and 2030.
  • By crop type, row crops accounted for an 80.6% share of the India seed market size in 2024 and are projected to grow at a 5.56% CAGR through 2030.
  • By geography, Maharashtra holds a 13.6% share of the India seed market size in 2024, and Haryana logs a 6.7% CAGR through 2030.

Segment Analysis

By Breeding Technology: Hybrid Dominance Reinforced by Climate Resilience

India seed market size for hybrids reflects the segment’s 70.1% revenue share and sets the stage for a 5.68% CAGR through 2030. Yield differentials of 15-35% over open-pollinated lines, combined with built-in pest and drought tolerances, sustain farmer willingness to pay. Non-transgenic hybrids dominate volume because they straddle regulatory clarity and consumer acceptance. Transgenic hybrids contribute under 5% of segment revenue, capped by the GM approval hiatus, yet hold latent upside once policy hurdles ease.

Innovation momentum remains strong. Marker-assisted back-crossing inserts triple-stack resistance against wilt, thrips, and sterility mosaic in pigeon pea hybrids, while doubled-haploid platforms trim generation cycles in maize. Direct-seeded rice hybrids under the RiceTec-Mahyco venture deliver shorter maturity and mechanization compatibility, dovetailing with water-conservation drives. Robust pipeline visibility keeps the India seed market aligned with mechanization and export-oriented agriculture trends.

India Seed Market: Market Share by Breeding Technology

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

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By Cultivation Mechanism: Protected Cultivation Gains Traction

The India seed market size in open field accounted for a 99.8% share of the India seed market size in 2024, and protected cultivation seeds are forecast to expand at an 11.08% CAGR between 2025 and 2030. Break-even analysis under national subsidy schemes shows growers recouping greenhouse investment within 30 months when leveraging high-density, indeterminate tomato lines that yield 280 metric tons per hectare. Uniformity and disease resistance top trait wish-lists, prompting breeders to re-select parental lines for vertical canopy structure and synchronized fruit setting.

Seed supply chains adapt by introducing small-gram, high-unit-value packets that align with greenhouse transplant schedules. Companies deploy agronomists to steer nutrient and pruning regimes, ensuring genetic potential translates to yield. As greenhouse acreage compounds, protected cultivation’s double-digit growth rate promises a steadily expanding niche within the wider India seed market.

By Crop Type: Row Crop Priority Mirrors National Food Agenda

By crop type, row crops accounted for an 80.6% share of the India seed market size in 2024 and are projected to grow at a 5.56% CAGR through 2030. Cotton holds the largest single‐crop revenue block, buoyed by Bt hybrids and integrated pest-management packages compliant with export lint standards. Corn receives policy tailwinds via ethanol-blending mandates that anticipate a good biofuel share by 2030, intensifying demand for high-starch hybrids.

Vegetable seed revenue, while smaller, outpaces row crops in growth as urban middle-class diets diversify. Compact onion and long-shelf-life tomato hybrids claim greenhouse slots, while TPS makes inroads into both protected and open fields. Pulse hybrids, riding Atmanirbharta incentives, expand breeder-seed orders for Tur and Masoor, albeit from a modest base. These shifts maintain a balanced portfolio that defends the India seed market from commodity price swings.

India Seed Market: Market Share by Crop Type

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Geography Analysis

Maharashtra’s 13.6% grip on the India seed market is rooted in its dense web of public institutes and private multiplication farms, and Haryana logs a 6.7% CAGR through 2030. Seed villages in Jalna and Hingoli districts supply cross-pollinated crops, whereas Nanded hosts greenhouse clusters for tomato and capsicum breeder seed. 

Gujarat and Karnataka capitalize on processing clusters and special economic zones that expedite export seed shipments. Digital platforms integrate with state procurement portals, enabling real-time aggregation of seed demand and trimming distributor margins. This diffusion of infrastructure underpins the broader expansion of the India seed market.

Emerging eastern and northeastern states register steeper growth off a lower base. Bihar’s new Makhana Board champions specialty aquatic-crop seed systems, while West Bengal’s paddy clusters adopt direct-seeded rice under mechanization drives[2]Source: Press Information Bureau, “State-wise Seed Processing Clusters Review,” pib.gov.in. Telangana’s agri-biotech parks support gene-editing spin-offs that feed elite lines into local seed firms. These developments broaden geographic resilience and mitigate over-reliance on Western states for seed supply.

Competitive Landscape

Market structure remains fragmented: the top five firms capture a good share of revenue, followed by dozens of regional seed houses. Multinationals such as Bayer AG and Corteva Inc., lean on deep R&D pipelines and proprietary trait stacks, whereas regional champions like Nuziveedu Seeds and Kaveri Seeds wield intimate agro-ecological knowledge and extensive dealer networks. Public institutions license pre-breeder material under liberalized terms, spawning a wave of small and medium enterprises that specialize in niche crops.

Strategic alliances multiply. PowerPollen’s collaboration with VNR Seeds brings pollen-capture technology to corn seed production, boosting hybrid vigor and seed set efficiency. Nuziveedu Seeds established a partnership with the Indian Agricultural Research Institute to develop advanced pigeon pea varieties, enhancing collaboration between public and private research institutions[3]Source: Nuziveedu Seeds, “Collaboration with IARI for Pigeon Pea Improvement,” nuziveeduseeds.com. International Seed Federation and CGIAR’s five-year memorandum streamlines regulatory harmonization, reducing time-to-market for varieties that satisfy multiple national testing regimes. Service start-ups offer drone-based pollination counts and seed-field phenotyping, complementing physical input sales with data subscriptions.

Counterfeit threats and GM policy gridlock shape competitive strategy. Firms invest in tamper-proof holograms and QR codes linked to blockchain registries to safeguard brand equity. Limited scope for trait differentiation in transgenic space intensifies price and service competition in non-GM hybrids. Yet, gene-edited lines now pass under relaxed regulation, positioning innovation-ready companies to steal a march once consumer acceptance crystallizes.

India Seed Industry Leaders

  1. Advanta Seeds - UPL

  2. Bayer AG

  3. Corteva Agriscience

  4. Kaveri Seeds

  5. Syngenta Group

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
India Seed Market
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Recent Industry Developments

  • October 2025: The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, launched in New Delhi, aims to enhance agricultural development in 100 districts with low productivity through improvements in irrigation systems, seed quality, credit accessibility, and storage infrastructure.
  • September 2024: PowerPollen and VNR Seeds initiated a pollination-technology pilot in Indian corn-seed production, targeting superior hybrid yields.

Table of Contents for India Seed Industry Report

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND KEY FINDINGS

2. REPORT OFFERS

3. INTRODUCTION

  • 3.1 Study Assumptions AND Market Definition
  • 3.2 Scope of the Study
  • 3.3 Research Methodology

4. KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS

  • 4.1 Area Under Cultivation
    • 4.1.1 Row Crops
    • 4.1.2 Vegetables
  • 4.2 Most Popular Traits
    • 4.2.1 Cabbage and Onion
    • 4.2.2 Rice and Corn
    • 4.2.3 Tomato and Chilli
    • 4.2.4 Wheat and Cotton
  • 4.3 Breeding Techniques
    • 4.3.1 Row Crops and Vegetables
  • 4.4 Regulatory Framework
  • 4.5 Value Chain and Distribution Channel Analysis
  • 4.6 Market Drivers
    • 4.6.1 Government cluster programs scaling certified seed demand
    • 4.6.2 Shift to climate-resilient hybrids in cereals and pulses
    • 4.6.3 Expansion of protected cultivation boosting high-value vegetable seeds
    • 4.6.4 Digital crop-survey data unlocking hyper-local seed targeting
    • 4.6.5 Export push for Indian vegetable and cotton seed
    • 4.6.6 Venture capital inflows into seed-genomics start-ups
  • 4.7 Market Restraints
    • 4.7.1 Counterfeit seed trade and weak last-mile traceability
    • 4.7.2 Regulatory uncertainty around GM crop approvals
    • 4.7.3 Farm-saved seed dominance in rain-fed zones
    • 4.7.4 Rising seed-treatment costs squeezing smallholders

5. MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECAST (VALUE AND VOLUME)

  • 5.1 Breeding Technology
    • 5.1.1 Hybrids
    • 5.1.1.1 Non-Transgenic Hybrids
    • 5.1.1.2 Transgenic Hybrids
    • 5.1.1.2.1 Insect Resistant Hybrids
    • 5.1.2 Open Pollinated Varieties and Hybrid Derivatives
  • 5.2 Cultivation Mechanism
    • 5.2.1 Open Field
    • 5.2.2 Protected Cultivation
  • 5.3 Crop Type
    • 5.3.1 Row Crops
    • 5.3.1.1 Fiber Crops
    • 5.3.1.1.1 Cotton
    • 5.3.1.1.2 Other Fiber Crops
    • 5.3.1.2 Forage Crops
    • 5.3.1.2.1 Alfalfa
    • 5.3.1.2.2 Forage Corn
    • 5.3.1.2.3 Forage Sorghum
    • 5.3.1.2.4 Other Forage Crops
    • 5.3.1.3 Grains and Cereals
    • 5.3.1.3.1 Corn
    • 5.3.1.3.2 Rice
    • 5.3.1.3.3 Sorghum
    • 5.3.1.3.4 Wheat
    • 5.3.1.3.5 Other Grains and Cereals
    • 5.3.1.4 Oilseeds
    • 5.3.1.4.1 Canola, Rapeseed and Mustard
    • 5.3.1.4.2 Soybean
    • 5.3.1.4.3 Sunflower
    • 5.3.1.4.4 Other Oilseeds
    • 5.3.1.5 Pulses
    • 5.3.2 Vegetables
    • 5.3.2.1 Brassicas
    • 5.3.2.1.1 Cabbage
    • 5.3.2.1.2 Cauliflower and Broccoli
    • 5.3.2.1.3 Other Brassicas
    • 5.3.2.2 Cucurbits
    • 5.3.2.2.1 Cucumber and Gherkin
    • 5.3.2.2.2 Pumpkin and Squash
    • 5.3.2.2.3 Other Cucurbits
    • 5.3.2.3 Roots and Bulbs
    • 5.3.2.3.1 Garlic
    • 5.3.2.3.2 Onion
    • 5.3.2.3.3 Potato
    • 5.3.2.3.4 Other Roots and Bulbs
    • 5.3.2.4 Solanaceae
    • 5.3.2.4.1 Chilli
    • 5.3.2.4.2 Eggplant
    • 5.3.2.4.3 Tomato
    • 5.3.2.4.4 Other Solanaceae
    • 5.3.2.5 Unclassified Vegetables
    • 5.3.2.5.1 Asparagus
    • 5.3.2.5.2 Lettuce
    • 5.3.2.5.3 Okra
    • 5.3.2.5.4 Peas
    • 5.3.2.5.5 Spinach
    • 5.3.2.5.6 Other Unclassified Vegetables
    • 5.3.3 Geography
    • 5.3.3.1 Bihar
    • 5.3.3.2 Gujarat
    • 5.3.3.3 Haryana
    • 5.3.3.4 Karnataka
    • 5.3.3.5 Madhya Pradesh
    • 5.3.3.6 Maharashtra
    • 5.3.3.7 Rajasthan
    • 5.3.3.8 Telangana
    • 5.3.3.9 Uttar Pradesh
    • 5.3.3.10 West Bengal
    • 5.3.3.11 Other States

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

  • 6.1 Key Strategic Moves
  • 6.2 Market Share Analysis
  • 6.3 Company Landscape
  • 6.4 Company Profiles (Includes Global Level Overview, Market Level Overview, Core Business Segments, Financials, Headcount, Key Information, Market Rank, Market Share, Products and Services, and Analysis of Recent Developments).
    • 6.4.1 Syngenta Group
    • 6.4.2 Bayer AG
    • 6.4.3 Corteva Inc.
    • 6.4.4 Groupe Limagrain
    • 6.4.5 Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd
    • 6.4.6 East-West Seed Company
    • 6.4.7 BASF SE
    • 6.4.8 Namdhari Seeds Pvt Ltd
    • 6.4.9 Advanta Seeds (UPL Ltd.)
    • 6.4.10 Kaveri Seed Company Ltd
    • 6.4.11 VNR Seeds Pvt Ltd
    • 6.4.12 Rasi Seeds Pvt Ltd
    • 6.4.13 SeedWorks International Pvt Ltd
    • 6.4.14 Mahyco Pvt Ltd
    • 6.4.15 DCM Shriram Limited (Bioseed)

7. KEY STRATEGIC QUESTIONS FOR SEED CEOS

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India Seed Market Report Scope

Hybrids, Open Pollinated Varieties & Hybrid Derivatives are covered as segments by Breeding Technology. Open Field, Protected Cultivation are covered as segments by Cultivation Mechanism. Row Crops, Vegetables are covered as segments by Crop Type. Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal are covered as segments by State.
Breeding Technology
Hybrids Non-Transgenic Hybrids
Transgenic Hybrids Insect Resistant Hybrids
Open Pollinated Varieties and Hybrid Derivatives
Cultivation Mechanism
Open Field
Protected Cultivation
Crop Type
Row Crops Fiber Crops Cotton
Other Fiber Crops
Forage Crops Alfalfa
Forage Corn
Forage Sorghum
Other Forage Crops
Grains and Cereals Corn
Rice
Sorghum
Wheat
Other Grains and Cereals
Oilseeds Canola, Rapeseed and Mustard
Soybean
Sunflower
Other Oilseeds
Pulses
Vegetables Brassicas Cabbage
Cauliflower and Broccoli
Other Brassicas
Cucurbits Cucumber and Gherkin
Pumpkin and Squash
Other Cucurbits
Roots and Bulbs Garlic
Onion
Potato
Other Roots and Bulbs
Solanaceae Chilli
Eggplant
Tomato
Other Solanaceae
Unclassified Vegetables Asparagus
Lettuce
Okra
Peas
Spinach
Other Unclassified Vegetables
Geography Bihar
Gujarat
Haryana
Karnataka
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Rajasthan
Telangana
Uttar Pradesh
West Bengal
Other States
Breeding Technology Hybrids Non-Transgenic Hybrids
Transgenic Hybrids Insect Resistant Hybrids
Open Pollinated Varieties and Hybrid Derivatives
Cultivation Mechanism Open Field
Protected Cultivation
Crop Type Row Crops Fiber Crops Cotton
Other Fiber Crops
Forage Crops Alfalfa
Forage Corn
Forage Sorghum
Other Forage Crops
Grains and Cereals Corn
Rice
Sorghum
Wheat
Other Grains and Cereals
Oilseeds Canola, Rapeseed and Mustard
Soybean
Sunflower
Other Oilseeds
Pulses
Vegetables Brassicas Cabbage
Cauliflower and Broccoli
Other Brassicas
Cucurbits Cucumber and Gherkin
Pumpkin and Squash
Other Cucurbits
Roots and Bulbs Garlic
Onion
Potato
Other Roots and Bulbs
Solanaceae Chilli
Eggplant
Tomato
Other Solanaceae
Unclassified Vegetables Asparagus
Lettuce
Okra
Peas
Spinach
Other Unclassified Vegetables
Geography Bihar
Gujarat
Haryana
Karnataka
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Rajasthan
Telangana
Uttar Pradesh
West Bengal
Other States
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Market Definition

  • Commercial Seed - For the purpose of this study, only commercial seeds have been included as part of the scope. Farm-saved Seeds, which are not commercially labeled are excluded from scope, even though a minor percentage of farm-saved seeds are exchanged commercially among farmers. The scope also excludes vegetatively reproduced crops and plant parts, which may be commercially sold in the market.
  • Crop Acreage - While calculating the acreage under different crops, the Gross Cropped Area has been considered. Also known as Area Harvested, according to the Food & Agricultural Organization (FAO), this includes the total area cultivated under a particular crop across seasons.
  • Seed Replacement Rate - Seed Replacement Rate is the percentage of area sown out of the total area of crop planted in the season by using certified/quality seeds other than the farm-saved seed.
  • Protected Cultivation - The report defines protected cultivation as the process of growing crops in a controlled environment. This includes greenhouses, glasshouses, hydroponics, aeroponics, or any other cultivation system that protects the crop against any abiotic stress. However, cultivation in an open field using plastic mulch is excluded from this definition and is included under open field.
Keyword Definition
Row Crops These are usually the field crops which include the different crop categories like grains & cereals, oilseeds, fiber crops like cotton, pulses, and forage crops.
Solanaceae These are the family of flowering plants which includes tomato, chili, eggplants, and other crops.
Cucurbits It represents a gourd family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera. The major crops considered for this study include Cucumber & Gherkin, Pumpkin and squash, and other crops.
Brassicas It is a genus of plants in the cabbage and mustard family. It includes crops such as carrots, cabbage, cauliflower & broccoli.
Roots & Bulbs The roots and bulbs segment includes onion, garlic, potato, and other crops.
Unclassified Vegetables This segment in the report includes the crops which don’t belong to any of the above-mentioned categories. These include crops such as okra, asparagus, lettuce, peas, spinach, and others.
Hybrid Seed It is the first generation of the seed produced by controlling cross-pollination and by combining two or more varieties, or species.
Transgenic Seed It is a seed that is genetically modified to contain certain desirable input and/or output traits.
Non-Transgenic Seed The seed produced through cross-pollination without any genetic modification.
Open-Pollinated Varieties & Hybrid Derivatives Open-pollinated varieties produce seeds true to type as they cross-pollinate only with other plants of the same variety.
Other Solanaceae The crops considered under other Solanaceae include bell peppers and other different peppers based on the locality of the respective countries.
Other Brassicaceae The crops considered under other brassicas include radishes, turnips, Brussels sprouts, and kale.
Other Roots & Bulbs The crops considered under other roots & bulbs include Sweet Potatoes and cassava.
Other Cucurbits The crops considered under other cucurbits include gourds (bottle gourd, bitter gourd, ridge gourd, Snake gourd, and others).
Other Grains & Cereals The crops considered under other grains & cereals include Barley, Buck Wheat, Canary Seed, Triticale, Oats, Millets, and Rye.
Other Fibre Crops The crops considered under other fibers include Hemp, Jute, Agave fibers, Flax, Kenaf, Ramie, Abaca, Sisal, and Kapok.
Other Oilseeds The crops considered under other oilseeds include Ground nut, Hempseed, Mustard seed, Castor seeds, safflower seeds, Sesame seeds, and Linseeds.
Other Forage Crops The crops considered under other forages include Napier grass, Oat grass, White clover, Ryegrass, and Timothy. Other forage crops were considered based on the locality of the respective countries.
Pulses Pigeon peas, Lentils, Broad and horse beans, Vetches, Chickpeas, Cowpeas, Lupins, and Bambara beans are the crops considered under pulses.
Other Unclassified Vegetables The crops considered under other unclassified vegetables include Artichokes, Cassava Leaves, Leeks, Chicory, and String beans.
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Research Methodology

Mordor Intelligence follows a four-step methodology in all our reports.

  • Step-1: IDENTIFY KEY VARIABLES: In order to build a robust forecasting methodology, the variables and factors identified in Step-1 are tested against available historical market numbers. Through an iterative process, the variables required for market forecast are set and the model is built on the basis of these variables.
  • Step-2: Build a Market Model: Market-size estimations for the forecast years are in nominal terms. Inflation is not a part of the pricing, and the average selling price (ASP) is kept constant throughout the forecast period.
  • Step-3: Validate and Finalize: In this important step, all market numbers, variables and analyst calls are validated through an extensive network of primary research experts from the market studied. The respondents are selected across levels and functions to generate a holistic picture of the market studied.
  • Step-4: Research Outputs: Syndicated Reports, Custom Consulting Assignments, Databases, and Subscription Platforms
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