Monopoly and Monoculture-Trends in Indian Seed Industry

Trends in Indian Seed Industry Vandana Shiva Tom Crompton The Indian seed industry is expected to grow very rapidly in the coming years. There are several grounds for expecting that the seed industry wilt coalesce under the control of a few large companies with foreign interests. Firstly hybrid seed is produced principally by large companies and its use is set to increase following the decline of the public sector for various reasons. Secondly, smaller companies will find it increasingly difficult to compete because the market is fickle. Moreover, the plant variety protection regulations will scotch a market in second and subsequent generations. Thirdly, there will be increased use of transgenic crops which are produced only by those companies which can meet the high development costs.