Seed

Quality soil and seed are two of the most important farming inputs. High yields and good produce can be achieved only when soil and seeds are used wisely. For this it is necessary to test soil and seed to find out what needs to be added to optimize them. Keeping this in mind, the government has set up a large number of testing labs for various types of soil and seed. Here are a few details on soil fertility maps, testing labs and seed distribution centres.

Seed Testing

In India, farmers themselves produce a large majority of the seeds sown. The Indian seed industry consists of a national level organization called the National Seeds Corporation (External website that opens in a new window) (NSC) and seed corporations (External website that opens in a new window) in every State. The National Seeds Corporation, which is under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture, undertakes production, processing and marketing of agricultural seeds. These seeds include a variety of cereals, pulses, oilseed, fodder, fibre and vegetable crops.

National Seeds Corporation or NSC has been involved in the formulation of seed certification standards. The seeds produced by NSC are evaluated for quality standards by independent seed certification agencies as well as its own International Seed Testing Association (External website that opens in a new window) accredited seed-testing laboratory. National Seeds Corporation has helped state seeds corporations and agricultural universities set up seed testing laboratories in different parts of the country.

Seed testing laboratories (External website that opens in a new window) are involved in checking the compatibility of different varieties of seeds with local soil and other farming conditions. There is a wide range of tests that can be carried out on seeds. Most seeds are usually tested for germination and vigour, diseases, purity, genetic traits and general seed health for quality assurance. Seeds for export need to be tested to check if they meet fixed quality standards. Seeds that are imported are tested for their suitability to Indian climatic conditions and tolerance to local diseases and pests. Many seed testing laboratories in India are also involved in developing hybrid varieties of seeds, which lead to an increase in crop productivity.

In 2005, the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (External website that opens in a new window) of the Ministry of Agriculture (External website that opens in a new window) founded the National Seed Research and Training Centre (External website that opens in a new window) (NSRTC) in Varanasi. The main reason for the creation of this body was to have a separate seed quality control laboratory, which would serve as the Central Seed Testing Laboratory (External website that opens in a new window).  This laboratory is meant to act as a referral lab when disputes arise in a court of law with regard to quality of seed.

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Source: National Portal Content Management Team, Reviewed on:05-05-2010