India Okra Seed Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Trait (Hybrid and Open Pollinated), By Farming Type (Organic and Conventional), 2022 – 2029

The India okra seed market size was valued at USD 83.71 million in 2021. The market is projected to grow from USD 87.12 million in 2022 to USD 148.45 million, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.91% during the forecast period. The global COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and staggering, with okra seed experiencing lower-than-anticipated demand across all regions compared to pre-pandemic levels. Based on our analysis, the market exhibited a lower growth of -2.24% in 2020 as compared to 2019.

The India okra seed market growth is promising, owing to the increasing area under okra cultivation and high adoption of hybrid seeds. Moreover, the growing demand for okra in foreign countries due to its health benefits boosts the need to increase okra production using quality okra seeds.

COVID-19 IMPACT

Disruption in Supply Chain amid COVID-19 to Affect Seed Availability in India

The lockdown resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak brought the economy to a standstill with complete closures of businesses in a few sectors. Although agricultural activities were exempted, agricultural value chains also faced large-scale disruption in the early stages of the lockdown process. This factor had a severe adverse impact on the rural economy of India, particularly the agriculture sector. The availability of agricultural products, such as seeds, was significantly impacted during the pandemic period.

On the consumer's side, due to irregular logistic supply and disruption in the transport sector, the distress sale of vegetables was observed in many urban and rural cities. Many consumers also changed their shopping behavior. However, a large buffer stock of essential vegetable seeds supplemented by a high harvest in the 2019–2-20 season enabled the government to tackle the pandemic. Although the buffer stock restricted the immediate fallout of the food system, it could not limit the price hikes in the essential commodities sector. Restriction on movement, reverse labor migration, and transportation-related issues disrupted domestic supply chains of food, resulting in the rise of wholesale and retail prices of primary commodities such as wheat flour, pulses, milk, and vegetables.

Considering all these short-term and long-term effects, many states focused on strengthening short and medium-term strategies, and the agri system was back to normal until the end of 2020.

LATEST TRENDS

Innovative Marketing Programs by Seed Manufacturing Companies in India to Propel Market Growth

There is an increasing awareness among the farmers about the advantages of using certified seeds for crop production. The demand for seeds that grow into okra plants with better resistance against Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV) and Enation Leaf Curl Virus (ELCV) has increased significantly among farmers. The Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) has also improved considerably with farmers looking for seed varieties with improved traits and yield. Hence, companies are adopting innovative strategies to attract more farmers into purchasing their products. For instance, Ankur Seeds include farmers who are satisfied with their products and service in the company’s advertising campaign for the region.

DRIVING FACTORS

Growing Area Under Okra Cultivation is Positively Influencing the Market Growth

According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data, the area harvested from okra in India witnessed a CAGR of 0.77% from 2016 to 2021. In 2021, the area harvested from okra was 531 thousand hectares, which is an increase of 2.3% from the 2020 area harvested area of 513 thousand hectares. Thus, the growing area under okra cultivation fuels the demand for high-yielding okra seed varieties. According to the FAO, okra production in 2018 was 6,095 thousand metric tons, and it increased by 2.24% and reached a production volume of 6,371 thousand metric tons in 2020. Hence, okra seeds demand is driven by increasing okra production per year. At the same time, the export demand for okra seeds from India, along with the Indian companies' overseas presence, is adding stimulus to the growth of the market.

High Adoption of Hybrid Okra Seeds to Support Market Growth

India is an agricultural economy where seed plays a crucial role in the farmers' output and quality of crops. Thus, the State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and private companies are continuously engaged in developing hybrid seeds of different crops to suit the varied agro-climatic conditions in the country. In addition, the Government of India is providing support through various crop development programs to promote the use of hybrid and high-yielding seed varieties. Farmers choose hybrid seeds of okra due to their characteristics such as higher yield, more excellent uniformity, improved color, and disease resistance, among others. Moreover, hybrid seeds overcome abiotic stress and provide higher yields; hence, they have higher importance among Indian farmers. Advanta Radhika is a popular hybrid okra seed variety in India that gives the best yield if maintained well with maturity within 40-45 days. Farmers prefer this seed to earn more by exporting high-quality vegetables. Apart from Advanta-Radhika, other popular okra varieties in India are Advanta-Navya, Namdari-NS-862, BASF-Singham, Mahyco-10, Syngenta-OH-2324, and Advanta-Lavanya.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Changing Weather Conditions in India to Hamper Market Growth

The impact of climate change on the seed production of vegetables varies with soil and environmental conditions. With changing climate conditions and unpredictable weather changes, many parts of India face water scarcity during the growing season. Hence, the overall vegetable yields will be lower than in countries where environmental stress is minimal or absent.

An increase in particle mass is also sometimes observed, although the effect of high CO2 on particle mass varies widely. High temperatures accelerate various aspects of plant metabolism and alter organ growth, respiration, aging, and origin relationships. Most vegetable seeds are susceptible to heat stress both before and after fertilization, and any exposure to temperatures higher than optimal for the species can lead to significant yield losses.

Therefore, the changing climate conditions are likely to hinder the market growth.

SEGMENTATION

By Trait Analysis

Hybrid Seed to Dominate Market as it Gives Better Yield with Low Requirement for Agri-inputs

The market is divided into hybrid and open pollinated based on trait type.

The hybrid segment holds a significant share in the Indian market. There is an increasing demand for high-yielding hybrid varieties among consumers. Conversely, the amount of available land in the country for cultivation is not increasing proportionately. This has contributed to the increased adoption of such products among the farmers, producing better yields with low requirements for agri-inputs.

Although the growth of hybrid varieties is the fastest, open pollinated seed varieties are also used among farmers in India. Companies are working on developing open pollinated seed varieties that can be easily integrated as a part of sustainable agriculture practices adopted by farmers.

By Farming Type Analysis

Conventional Farming Type is Witnessing Promising Growth Due to its Wide Cultivation Area

The market has been classified into organic and conventional based on farming type.

The cultivation of hybrid and open pollinated okra seed varieties in conventional farming is high, owing to the wide-area under traditional agriculture. Moreover, conventional farming approves the optimal use of chemical and biological agricultural inputs, such as pesticides and fertilizers, and provides a higher yield per hectare.

In the coming years, the use of okra seed will be growing in organic farming due to the rising area under organic cultivation and increasing awareness regarding the benefits of consuming organic fruits & vegetables in India. Furthermore, the sales of organic vegetables increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more consumers looking for beneficial vegetables in their routine diet. Thus, the increasing organic okra production and rising demand for organic okra would increase the cultivation of okra seeds in organic farming.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Key Players Investing in Organic and Inorganic Developments to Fortify their Business Capabilities

The India okra seed market exhibits a semi-consolidated market with several multinational corporations and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) competing against each other to expand their business in the region. Some of India's major manufacturers include Syngenta Group, UPL Limited, Bayer AG, Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd., and Mahyco Private Limited. The major seed manufacturers are adopting aggressive marketing strategies to educate farmers about the benefits of hybrid seeds. For instance, Ankur Seeds conducts field trials to educate farmers about their products. Seed manufacturing companies are also investing in the latest automated and digitization technology to improve their production process and research & development capabilities. Through these advanced technologies, the companies are also developing specific traits that can be included in the seeds to improve the yield and quality.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• UPL Limited (India)


• Mahyco Private Limited (India)


• JK Agri Genetics Limited (India)


• Acsen HyVeg Pvt Ltd. (India)


• Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd. (India)


• Syngenta Group (Switzerland)


• Namdhari Seeds Pvt. Ltd. (India)


• BAYER AG (Germany)


• Ankur Seeds Pvt. Ltd. (India)


• BASF SE (Germany)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• December 2020: East-West Seed launched a new gardener-friendly specially designed vegetable seed pack named ‘Go-Grow’ in Kerala. The product range contained seeds for 14 vegetables, including okra for garden cultivators.


• September 2018: Navratan Agro-Organic launched a new variety named ‘Okra 82 hybrid’ in the Indian market. The product shows good resistance against Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV).

REPORT COVERAGE

The India okra seed market research report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on key aspects such as competitive landscape, traits, and farming type. Besides this, it offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the report encompasses several factors contributing to the market's growth in recent years.

Report Scope and Segmentation