Which one of the following best describes the main objective of 'Seed Village Concept'?

(a) Encouraging the farmers to use their own farm seeds and discouraging them to buy the seeds from others
(b) Involving the farmers for training in quality seed production and thereby to make available quality seeds to others at appropriate time and affordable cost ✓ UPSC's answer
(c) Earmarking some villages exclusively for the production of certified seeds
(d) Identifying the entrepreneurs in villages and providing them technology and finance to set up seed companies

Why the answer is (b)

• The Seed Village Programme trains groups of farmers in a village in quality seed production, supplies them foundation seed at subsidised rates, and helps them produce certified/quality seed for their own use and for sale to neighbours at the right time and affordable cost — option (b).

• It aims to raise the seed replacement rate; it does not merely promote farm-saved seed (a), reserve villages (c) or create seed companies (d).

• Hence option (b).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Encouraging the farmers to use their own farm seeds and discouraging them to buy the…: It promotes quality seed, not just own-saved seed.
(c) Earmarking some villages exclusively for the production of certified seeds: It does not earmark villages exclusively.
(d) Identifying the entrepreneurs in villages and providing them technology and finance to…: It trains farmers, not entrepreneurs setting up companies.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2015, held on 23 August 2015. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.