Seed is a critical input in cultivation of any crop. Seed accounts for about 50% of total cost of production. Uses of healthy seeds in any crop is of vital important.continous use of the same seed stock without periodic replacement leads to their degeneration and are responsible for bringing down yield potential of a crop. Thus, the strategy to produce or multiply quality seed involves multiplication of free virus/disease seed stock by adopting scientific practices.
Many new varieties are released for cultivation by Agricultural universities and research institutes but practically it does not suffice to meet the Farmers entire demand, especially of new release varieties. Availability of quality seeds is one difficulty often faced by any farmers. Hence, it is the need of Hour, where farmers can produce or multiply quality seeds in their own field without much dependence from other source of Agencies/Govt, in order to overcome the availability of seeds at their door steps during peak season of sowing crop at right time. Production of quality seed of any crop in our state is still in a nascent stage comparing to other neighbouring States. In order to meet the demand, our farmers should also start multiplying seeds at their own level by adopting scientific way of cultivation.
Seeds multiplication has four stages namely-Nucleus seed, Breeder seeds, Foundation seeds and certified seeds. The nucleus seeds are produced by the breeders (breeders can also be farmers) who have developed the varieties. Nucleus seed is produced by seed farms of State/Universities/Seed agencies for production of breeder seeds. The breeder seed is further used to produce foundation seed. The foundation seed is sold to various private seed producing agencies and farmers for producing of certified seed. Certified seed is the final stage of seed which is sold to farmers for horizontal expansion of commercial crop. Seed producer should follow proper guidelines and regular inspection should carry out at each stage to maintain purity and quality of seed.
Farmers can purchase small quantities of foundation or certified seed from various authentic seed producing agencies and multiply it on their own farm/field to meet their requirement for next year, which also reduces the expenditure of farmers for purchase of seeds needed for sowing next season. These way farmers can start maintaining their own seeds at their own level.
As per location specific, suitability, choice of crops, farmers can select varieties of seeds/crops as per their requirement. For example, if the farmers are interested in producing and selling certified seed, he/she can purchase foundation seed of crop varieties from State seed cooperation/Deptt.of Agriculture National seed cooperation/Agriculture universities etc, or in case if the farmers wishes to produce his own quality seed then one can purchase the certified seed from authentic source. Thereafter the farmer can multiply the seed after taking certain precaution to maintain the quality and genetic purity of any seeds he is producing.
Martina Shitiri
Subject Matter Specialist (GPB)
KVK, Tuensang.
