Development of seed programmecht dk;Zdze dk fodkl

Qu. What is a seed programme ? Ans.It is a series of activity of planning and

implementation to multiply and distribute the seeds on requisite quantity with the excellent quality.However the quality seeds production must depend upon the other agri. inputs such as irrigation support, farm mechanization, land leveling, crop protection and the last credit facilities

vk/kkj]Bases of seed programmeA. High level support:

a. Govt. desire of Agri. improvement.b. Administrative support at all levels for planning &

implementation.B. Effective plant breeding programme:

a. Varietal testing programmeb. Primary introduction ,secondary introduction &

varietal improvement.C. Co-ordinated effort:

a. Effective extension programme to guide the farmers.b. Proper TOT to the extension workers by scientist.

Types of seed programme

OFFICIAL SEED PROGRAMME

Eg.Agri dept. run seed programmes.

SEMI-OFFICIAL SEED PROGRAMME

Eg.NSC ,SSC run seed programmes

PRIVATE SEED PROGRAMME

Eg.Pvt enterprise handle seed

programmes in US & Europe

FEATURES OF OFFICIAL SEED PROGRAMME.a. Not concerned for return on investment.b. Resulted due to political pressures.c. Such programmes are not very efficient.FEATURES OF SEMI-OFFICIAL SEED PROGRAMME.d. Remote form of direct govt. participation.e. Agencies come under companies act handle.f. Agencies works autonomously.g. Agencies are more commercial in nature and

management than govt.h. Such agencies are efficient and profit oriented.i. Examples are NSC, SSC, SFCI etc.

Steps involved in a seed programme.The collection of pertinent data on following aspects.a. Availability of superior varieties.b. Areas of adaptation and yield.c. Farmers preferred varieties.d. Availability of other inputs viz.irrigation,farm implements,

crop protection and credit facilities.e. Target of HYV production fixed by central govt.f. Target of other crops rather than the specific crop.g. Efficiency of extension agencies for the popularization of

varieties for demand creation.h. Collection of climatological data of several years.i. POP required for raising seed crops.j. Size of farms,methods of cultivation and harvesting

technique of seed growers.

Assignment of broad role to various agencies involved in a seed programme.

a. Seed certification agencies for certification via inspection,sampling and testing..

b. State seed corporation for production and distribution.c. Seed law enforcement agencies for seed law.d. State seed testing laboratory for seed testing.e. SAU’S & CRI’S impart training at state level.f. ICAR acts as a guide, promoter and coordinator of

agriculture research.g. NSC acts as producer of foundation seed and

multiplication for pre release varietyh. Seed control order must be regulated by seed inspectors.

uhfr] ;kstuk] Basic strategy of seed production.

• Integrated development of all inputs.• Compact area approach for tech. guidance

from sowing to distribution stage.• System of production:

a. Contract systemb. Shareholder system.

• Criteria for site selections:a. Area should have favorable climate for high

quality seed production preferably more than one season.

b. Favourable conditions for seed srorage.

c. Areas with high monsoon and rainfalls are avoided.d. Irrigated areas are selected for maximizing seed

multiplication ratios.• Technical guidance:

a. Involvement of SAU’S & CRI’S with seed programme with following objectives.

b. Breeding & screening of new varieties.c. Multiplication of Nucleus,breeder,Foundation seed.d. Provides service facilities for seed certification and

seed testing.• Choice of varieties adapted to the selected

agro-climatic area for which cultivators demands exists.

General guidelines for planning the seed programme

1. Decide the basic strategy and specific role of various agencies first.

2. Fix the target of seed production on the basis of pertinent data.

3. Calculate the production requirement for each generation.breeder,foundation,certified

4. Production requirement should be calculated on the basis of seed rate and seed multiplication rate

5. Example : let take if Rice SMR is 1:25 than one qtl breeder seed sown on 1 hec field ,it produces 25 quintal of foundation seed, further 25 qtl foundation seed sown on 25 hec produces 624 qtls of certified seed.

6. Prepare a flow chart for the activities to be done,and to by whom for inspection, certification,sampling,testing.

7. When different agencies are playing role than their requirements are separately managed.

8. Work out the cost of equipment and structural facilities.

9. Recruit the personnal for the activities of field and lab.

10.Chalk out seed marketing and pricing structure.11.Prepare a schedule of production for four year

period.12.Detail of any other anticipated situation.

Necessary precaution in planning the programme.• Plan should be prepared by group of

knowledgeable seed technologist.• Seed technologist must be coordinated with

engineers for mechanical operations and storage and drying operations.

• Seed technologist must coordinate with all those agencies whoever are involved on the operations.

• When the blue print has prepared it should subjected under serious competent review.

• Plan should not be made in hurry.

Organization of seed programme

OFFICIAL SEED PROGRAMME

Eg.Agri dept. run seed programmes.

SEMI-OFFICIAL SEED PROGRAMME

Eg.NSC ,SSC run seed programmes

PRIVATE SEED PROGRAMME

Eg.Pvt enterprise handle seed

programmes in US & Europe

Organization chart of a seed corporation.Board of Directors

Managing Director

Company Secretary & Administration

Chief Production Chief Marketing and Quality control

Seed Processing Plant Managers

Chief account and Finance

Seed production

Sales and Distribution

officer Quality control officer

Marketing planning &

distribution officer Account officerAudit & Cost

Control officer

Problems experienced on running the seed programme.Problems associated with planning ang organization.LACK OF COORDINATION:a. Among agencies involved.FAULTY PLANNING:a. Administrator orders to plan the seed programme.b. Assigns agronomist or breeder to plan the

programme with no instructions.c. Plan approved without the competent review.d. Plan implemented and equipment purchased and

facilities developed.

e. Sometimes catalogue of machinery finalize the seed program on their capability basis written on the catalogue without the knowledge of practical experience.

CONFLICTING ADVICE BY ADVISORS :f. Generally US or Western Europe advisors are

involved in seed programs of dev. Country.g. Their plan are very much tightly regulated and

encourage private sector.h. Their suggestions are not well understand by

the dev. Countries and impede the progress.

NON CONCERN ABOUT SEED: Seed programme by the higher officials is the most frustrating problem.

Problems resulting from insufficiently trained person Insufficient trained personal may divert the path of the

programme.Technical and operational problems:Tropical climates:a. Tropical or sub tropical climates are characterized by wet

and dry seasons alternately with high temp and humidity.

b. Tropical climates pose serious problems in drying and storage, invite the stored grain pests to activate and damp weather tends to deteriorate the quality of seed stored.

Facilities ,Equipment and Repairs:a. Seed production concentrated on few areas

rather than discrete one.b. Convenient locations results in higher seed

produce for drying,cleaning,treating and packaging and storage in a shorter period.

c. Sun drying is risky and hence forced air drying must be present on the locations.

d. Manufacturers of high capacity operations are limited on the country and hence depended on abroad for the supply.

e. Handler must also be brought from abroad.

f. Incase of wear and tear of the machine the THROUGH proper cannel problem for the order of the broken part takes a lot of time , and it leads to stop the programe for a long time.

g. Equipment used In seed operations must be of need capacity and type so that quality seed must come out.

h. Locally fabricated equipments must be ordered and used and must be repaired easily with less time.

• Lack of competent supervisiona. Well establish office cant do.b. A civil servent cant do.c. A specialist can do.d. Machines itself cant do.

• Small production unitsa. Seed production problem vary in different

countries eg. Presence of small holding in many countries.

b. Small holding waste the time and resource .c. Machineries will not show their proper efficiency.

d. Inspection and certification is a tough task.• Low quality seed

a. Technical and operational deficiencies results low quality seed.

b. New purchaser expects a high quality seed rather than the seeds he saved.

c. From the first look seed should show its quality.d. Climate however deteriorate the seed

programme but knowledgeable producers , inspectore ,technicians , and managers can cope up the problem with their extra efforts.

• Marketing and distribution:a. This is the main channel where the success of the

seed programme lies.b. Extension effortsc. Easy assessable distribution outlets should be with

in the village itself.d. Equitable distribution to the society to serve the

larger section of society.• Inexperiance :

a. Inexperianced persons may deteriorate the system.b. Proper time and training,retraining must sort out

the problem.c. Person should remain interestfull for the working

operations.