| Event | 13th National Seed Congress (NSC) 2024 |
| Organized By | Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare |
| Inauguration | November 28, 2024, by Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan (virtual address) |
| Venue | International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC), Varanasi |
| Duration | November 28-30, 2024 |
| Delegates | Over 700 from various sectors |
| Key Themes | Innovation, collaboration, strengthening seed sectors, public-private partnerships, biodiversity, technology, food security, climate resilience |
| Key Initiatives Launched | - Abstract Compendium. - Rice Fallow Webpage & Atlas (Eastern India: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal) |
| Plenary Sessions | 1. India's Role in the Global Seed Sector: Opportunities and Expectations (Speakers: Dr. Hans Bhardwaj, Mr. Ajai Rana, Mr. Mohan Babu). 2. Fostering South-South Collaboration in the Seed Sector (Speakers: Dr. Rabe Yahaya, Dr. Pratibha Singh, Dr. Ganga Acharya). 3. Strengthening the Seed Sector through Public-Private Partnerships |
| Side Event | Targeting Rice Fallows and System Intensification through Geo-Spatial Technology (Chaired by Smt. Shubha Thakur) |
| Technical Session | Emerging Seed Technologies, Quality Assurance, and Regulatory Standards |
| Focus on Uttar Pradesh | - 200 seed parks planned. - Increased focus on oilseed and millet cultivation |
| Technology Highlight | Geospatial mapping for crop planning (Rice Fallow Atlas) |
| Global Challenges Addressed | Food security, climate change |
