The Indian seed industry is gearing up to achieve an export revenue target of $200 million by 2005 from the $20 million level it had posted during the fiscal year 2002-03.

To facilitate this achievement, the Indian government has lifted its ban on export of farm seeds for the first time and permitted the industry to set up testing facilities for quality certification, which has been made mandatory by several importing countries.

Though India has become self-sufficient in food production and started exporting grains and cereals in a big way, the country's share in the $30-billion global seed industry is still at $1 billion, with a domestic market of $680 million.

International Seed Federation secretary general Bernard Le Buanee told rediff.com in Bangalore on Monday that the Indian seed companies in the private and public sector should associate with the International Seed Testing Association in Switzerland to secure certification for exporting their hybrid and organic variety of seeds.

"As international seed certification has become mandatory for exporting seeds, the Indian government and the industry should usher in a seed certification system by setting up testing labs across the country. This will enable the Indian seed industry to tap its export potential and increase its share of the global seed market," Buanee stated.

With sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures becoming critical in the next Doha round of World Trade Organisation negotiations at Cancun in Mexico this September, Buanee said India should have an Intellectual Property Rights system at the earliest for allowing international firms to ship hybrid and organic seeds into the country for multiplying their production.

"A beginning has been made by the Indian government towards an IPR regime with the legislation of the Plant Variety Protection Act, which will enable global firms to set up joint ventures in India to produce a variety of seeds, as the tropical climate and different soil in the country are most suitable for doubling production and boosting exports," Buanee affirmed.

As a first step towards increasing India's share of seed exports, the Bangalore-based Indo-American Hybrid Seeds Ltd has set up a testing lab on its farm to certify seeds for domestic and international markets.

"The industry is planning to set up two more similar labs in Karnataka and another two in Andhra Pradesh this year for testing and certifying hybrid and organic seeds that will meet the international standards of high yield and disease-resistant seeds," World Seed Congress chairman Manmohan Attavar disclosed.

International Seed Federation president Christopher Ahrens told rediff.com that the organisation was taking up with the WTO trade issues concerning the seed industry and farm goods in the developing countries.

"We are aware that many tariff and non-tariff barriers imposed by the developed countries, especially the US and European Union are limiting the export potential of developing countries like India and China.

The European Union is making efforts under pressure to reduce produce-based subsidies in its region to enable developing countries compete in its market on a level-playing field.

"The ISF believes in a liberal trade and promotion of hybrid and organic seeds from countries like India for world markets," Ahrens asserted.