Namdhari Seeds

Plant breeding activities in index countries and breeding programme for specific traits
Namdhari has its own breeding programmes in India, Indonesia and Thailand. The company develops hybrids and open-pollinated varieties (OPVs), with a focus on regional preferences, adaptability, disease resistance, yield and shelf life. These breeding programmes include improved varieties of 20 global crops as well as local crops like lab lab, yardlong bean and cluster bean.

Seed production activities in index region and engaging smallholder farmers in seed production
The company has seed production locations in India, Indonesia and Thailand. It involves local companies, farmer organisations, intermediaries and local farmers in its seed production activities. Smallholders produce the majority of its seeds in India and all of its seeds in Indonesia and Thailand.

Extension services
Namdhari Seeds offers extension services in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, both directly and through partnerships. The company provides farmers with all the latest technologies and sustainable farming methods. It further discloses that field assistants and product development staff in all areas are agriculture graduates who dedicate their time to providing adequate extension services and advice to farmers in their region. The company has reached 9,000 smallholder farmers in the region.

Stakeholder engagement
The company demonstrates that it undertakes stakeholder engagement activities in its involvement with the International Seed Federation (ISF), the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA) and the National Seed Association of India (NSAI). However, it could disclose an overview of issues raised through these activities as well as how it identifies its most relevant stakeholders.

The company provides limited insight into its position and activities related to genetic resources and intellectual property management. As it is important that seed companies contribute to genetic resources and intellectual property management that supports smallholder agriculture, the company could provide more insights into its activities for others to learn from.

Local participation in breeding/variety development
The company uses the knowledge, preferences and feedback of local farmers, consumers, traders and exporters to inform its breeding programmes. The product development and marketing and sales teams work closely with smallholder farmers to incorporate their feedback and preferences into its breeding programme. The company could provide greater clarity on whether such stakeholders are involved in the earlier stages of breeding/variety development and the ways in which it gives specific attention to feedback from women farmers.

Quality management in seed production in index countries
To ensure quality, the company has an internal management system that covers the majority of its seed production. It has an in-house laboratory that is used to ensure seed quality throughout the whole seed production process. The company has an opportunity to introduce an externally certified quality management system.

Social and labour standards in seed production
Namdhari Seeds states that child labour is strictly prohibited in the company and ensures this through routine visits by seed production officials at the production and processing locations. However, it could increase transparency by disclosing whether it verifies the age of farmers, and explaining  how it ensures that child labour standards are monitoring when seed production is carried out by intermediaries. The company could disclose more details about how it monitors forced labour. The company further discloses it has health and safety standards in place but does not disclose how these are monitored. Furthermore, the company does not disclose that it pays its workers a living wage or requires its intermediates to do the same.

Quality and safety of varieties
Namdhari Seeds is certified to internationally accepted best practices on safeguarding quality and safety of seeds through its laboratory’s ISTA accreditation. However, the company could strengthen its disclosure by providing information on its protocols for the introduction of new varieties into index countries.

Diverse portfolio
As the company only has four or more varieties for the majority of crops in its portfolio in Pakistan, Namdhari Seeds could expand its portfolio to offer more varieties in other index countries. Additionally, it offers both OPVs and hybrids for a limited number of crops, presenting a further opportunity to diversify its portfolio.

Programmes for women farmers and next-generation farmers
The company does not disclose evidence of programmes that are targeted towards building the capacity of women farmers and next generation farmers in the region.

Okra
Tomato
Watermelon

Maize
Millets
Rice, paddy
Sorghum

Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Cucumber
Eggplant
Gourd
Green bean
Green pea
Lettuce
Melon
Okra
Onion
Pepper (hot)
Pepper (sweet)
Pumpkin
Squash
Tomato
Watermelon

Download the portfolios of all companies in the 2021 index for South and South-East Asia here.