Job Description
Seed Production ManagerPosition: Seed Production Manager – Agriculture Crops (Pulses, Oilseeds, Cereals, Fodder)Organisation: AGRO Multistate Cooperative Society
Department: ProductionReports to: Director / CEOLocation: Base location – Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh; extensive field travel across MP and neighbouring states
Employment Type: Full-time, permanentExperience: 8–12 years in certified seed production (pulses and oilseeds essential)RoleAGRO Multistate Cooperative Society is expanding into certified seed production of agricultural crops, beginning Rabi 2026-27.The Seed Production Manager will own the technical side of this programme end to end: choosing the right varieties for each state and scheme, securing source seed, organising growers, supervising crop stages through certification, and delivering seed lots that pass field inspection, processing and seed testing.The role needs someone who knows which varieties are being released by universities in Madhya Pradesh and other States, which ones farmers actually prefer, and which diseases and pests threaten each seed crop.The role is also a senior external-facing one: the Manager must be able to hold discussions with executive and managerial officials of partner organisations such as HIL, NSC and NCCF and keep the Society informed of competitors and of the central and state schemes it can work under.Key ResponsibilitiesPlan crop-wise and state-wise seed production, and choose varieties based on state recommendation, release year, scheme conditions and farmer preference.Arrange source seed (Breeder / Foundation), select and train growers, and supervise crops through certification, processing, tagging and seed testing.Fix and enforce grower agreements, including raw seed procurement terms, and ensure timely payment to growers.Register seed plots with the State Seed Certification Agency within prescribed timelines and support all field inspections, and maintain certification and legal records under all Seeds Acts / rules.Ensure isolation, roguing, off-type removal and crop-stage management to meet genetic purity standards.Manage diseases and pests for each seed crop, and keep recovery, rejection and cost per quintal under control.Talk to executive and managerial officials of HIL, NSC, NCCF and other organisations, negotiate terms, and recommend whether to take a programme in a partner's name or our own, with a clear view of margins, payment terms, subsidy treatment and risk.Track central and state schemes (NMEO-Oilseeds, Pulses Mission, NFSM, state programmes) and competitors, and advise how the Society can participate.Build the Society's record of programmes and quality results to support future empanelment under national missions.Lead and train field officers and supervisors.Maintain MIS area, plot-wise status, certification stage, processing outturn, cost per quintal and grower dues; report weekly during season.RequirementsM.Sc. (Agriculture) in Genetics and Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Technology, Agronomy or Plant Pathology; or B.Sc. (Agriculture) with strong experience.Hands-on production of pulses and oilseeds (chana, lentil, mustard, soybean etc.) with a seed corporation, seed agency, cooperative or seed company.Knowledge of recent and popular varieties in Madhya Pradesh (including university releases), what farmers prefer, and the key diseases of each crop.Knowledge of seed certification standards and how government and partner seed programmes, tenders and subsidies work.Strong communication and negotiation skills, confident enough to speak with senior officials and decide the best programme structure.Fluent in Hindi and working English; proficient in Excel.Business, partnership and negotiation skillsCommercial understanding of how seed programmes make money: procurement price, recovery, bonus, service charge, subsidy flow and payment cycles.Ability to compare partner models (production in a partner's name versus own-name production through tenders) and decide which suits the Society for each crop and state.Awareness of how HIL, NSC, NCCF, NAFED and state seed corporations buy seed, empanel producers and run tenders.Awareness of what competitors are doing and the ability to turn that into practical decisions.Ability to read scheme guidelines and translate them into a production and participation plan.Working ConditionsHeavy field travel during crop season, with presence at plots, the processing plant and seed testing laboratories.
Flexibility to work across states. Willingness to travel and to stay at field locations as required.ExperienceApproximately 10–18 years of relevant experience.Strong hands-on experience in certified seed production.Experience in cereals, pulses and oilseeds is strongly preferred.Experience managing large acreage, multi-location production programmes and field teams.Knowledge of State Seed Certification procedures and breeder/foundation/certified seed systems.Existing relationships with seed growers, agricultural universities, seed corporations or source-seed institutions will be an advantage.DesirableExperience with HIL, NSC, NAFED, NCCF or state seed corporations, and existing grower contacts in MP and neighbouring states.How to ApplyShare your CV at hr@rajseeds.co.in