If everything goes as per plan regarding distribution of cheaper rations under the Atal Khadyann Yojana, Kumaon will soon have a separate Seed Development Corporation on the pattern of the Terai Seed Development Corporation, which is earning `six crore per annum by selling seed to other States. Speaking to The Pioneer, a Secretary said the people currently engage in farming for their own consumption and would sell their agriculture produce in the market only if they get rations at a cheaper price under this scheme. It will increase their pocket money and they will adopt modern technology to get more money against their produce. At present, the State produces 17 lakh metric tonnes including eight lakh metric tonnes in the hills and nine lakh metric tonnes in the plains. In the plains, the Terai Seed Development Corporation produces 3.3 lakh metric tonnes into seeds. With the implementation of the Atal Khadyann Yojana, the people will have six lakh metric tones of surplus crops in the hills. If they concentrate on seed production then they would get 20 per cent higher price against their produce. They do not have to pay Mandi tax or cess on their seed. As we know that seeds from the State are being considered high-quality, the Seed Development Corporation receives a high demand against its produce. Last financial year they failed to provide one lakh quintal seeds of wheat and earned `four to five crore by selling their seed. In 2009-10 they earned a mere `75 lakh due to technical problems within their organisation. If the hill people manage to bring out their produce, which they were earlier producing for self-consumption, into the open market, the State would witness a phenomenal change in the near future. In future, the State may witness a Hill Seed Corporation and its Centre may be somewhere in Kumaon division on a public private partnership mode. It would be pertinent to mention here that seed production of several hill crops and varieties are being taken up in the kharif and rabi seasons. Crops in both seasons include mandua, sawan, ricebean, soyabean, gahat, rajma and ramdana and, in the rabi season, barley is included. There is acute shortage of certified seed of minor crops. The corporation will focus on these crops in its seed production channel.