The Eighth National Seed Congress has begun deliberations on advanced seed development technologies and regulatory measures in Hyderabad this morning. Telangana Agriculture Minister Shrinivasa Reddy formally inaugurated the Congress. Speaking on the occasion, he said private, public research and development agencies should work together to ensure quality seed at affordable cost to poor farmers. <br/><br/>He stressed the need for pro-farmer stand in various regulatory policies to arrest the farmer suicides. Stating that Telangana state is contributing 60 per cent of total seed requirement of the country, he said the national growth rate in seed sector registered at 15 per cent where as the global growth rate is only 3 per cent. Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture Special Secretary A K Srivastava asked the straws to utilise the rich Biodiversity to develop newer seed varieties. <br/><br/>The union Agriculture Ministry has been holding the annual event to provide common platform to all stakeholders to discuss a variety of issues including advances in seed development technologies and various seed policies with respect to the seed industry. <br/><br/>Over 600 delegates from national and international research and development agencies such as ICRISAT are taking part in the Seed Congress. Over a dozen breakout sessions are being held as part of it. A special session has also been dedicated for seed development in Telangana during the Congress. About 80 progressive farmers who are involved in the seed development are also taking part in the deliberations.