India, Feb. 3 -- The Indian government has launched a new programme called the National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds as part of the Union Budget for 2025-26.

This mission aims to improve research, develop seeds that resist pests and climate challenges and increase the availability of over 100 new seed varieties (23 varieties of cereals, 11 pulses, seven oilseeds, among others) released since July 2024.

However, concerns are rising that this initiative might promote monocultures and harm traditional crop diversity and indigenous seed varieties.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned three main goals of the mission:

Strengthening research: The mission aims to develop new high-yielding seeds.

Improving resistance: It wil...