In this article we will discuss about:- 1. Introduction to Certified Seed 2. Characteristics of Certified Seed 3. Identification 4. Physical Factors 5. Hereditary Traits and Genetic Basis of Quality Seeds 6. Classes 7. Minimum Field and Seed Certification Standards 8. Seed Crop Inspection 9. Profit and Risks.
Introduction to Certified Seed:
Ever since ushering of Green Revolution with the introduction of semi dwarf Mexican wheat varieties like Lerma Roso & Sonora-64 in 1965-66, farmers became aware about the importance of improved seeds for getting high yields from their crops. As a consequence quality seeds have become a most sought- after agricultural input and their demand is increasing day by day.
In spite of all these progressive developments, very few farmers are aware of the genetic basis of quality seeds. Most of them depend on market to meet their seed requirements and many times face frustration and suffer loss due to substandard seed. Young farmers may adopt certified seed production as profitable and farmer friendly venture. In this article, we will study the seed quality concept and guidelines for initiating this enterprise.
Vegetative parts of a plant such as roots, stem cuttings, bulbs, suckers which are used to plant new crop are considered and included in seed. Seed which is produced by following various field and seed standards under the supervision of Punjab State Seed Certification Authority (PSSCA) is known as certified seed.
Characteristics of Certified Seed:
(1) Purity of such seeds is confirmed that seed is pure and true to the type as specified in the Seed Act.
(2) Certified seed is free from any diseased/weed seed.
(3) The germination of such seeds is confirmed through laboratory tests.
These are some of the important features of certified seed. For example for certified seed of wheat minimum germination is 85%, minimum purity is 98% and moisture content not more than 12%. Similarly certified seed of rice/paddy must have minimum 98% purity, minimum 80% germination and moisture content not more than 13%.
Identification of Certified Seed:
A certified seed beg bears two tags, one issued by the PSSCA and the second by the seed producing company. These tags have full details regarding seed quality factors.
Physical Factors of Seed Quality:
These factors comprise seed germination, color, size, seed weight, moisture content, presence of inner matter and weed seed in a given sample of seed. If the proportion of broken seed is more, the seed germination will be less.
Physical examining of seeds can only ensure physical purity of seed for some parameters such as absence of dust, percentage of broken seed or seed color etc. but it cannot judge genetic purity of seed which is more important.
Hereditary Traits and Genetic Basis of Quality Seeds:
Crop plants express various characters/traits which determine ultimate yield of a crop. Yield contributing traits vary from crop to crop. For instance, number of tillers per plant, ear length, number of seeds in a ear, 1000 seed weight, plant height, resistance to various diseases/insect pests/abiotic stresses etc. are all important yield contributing traits in wheat crop.
All these traits are determined by the genetic factors or genes whose expression is highly influenced by various environmental factors such as soil type, temperature, humidity and other climatic factors. Such traits are heritable because their contributory genetic factors are transferred from parents to offspring through seed thus expressing such traits in the next crop also.
For instance, high yield of wheat varieties such as WH1105, PBW621 and HD 2967 is due to superior genes or genetic factors. Genuineness of a variety therefore, cannot be determined by merely physically judging a sample of seeds because these genetic factors or genes are invisible.
Their presence can be seen only through expression of a particular trait in the next generation called progeny. The only option left for the farmers is that they should buy certified seeds which are produced from a known pedigree source by following seed certification norms.
Seed Act 1966:
In order to provide true to type seeds of a recommended/notified variety at affordable price to the farmers, Govt. of India enacted a law known as ‘Seed Act 1966’. The objective of this seed act was to regulate various activities relating to seed production, seed certification, seed testing, seed packaging and seed marketing in the country. In the light of this act, seed certification authority and seed testing laboratories were established throughout the country to fulfill mandate of this act.
Accordingly, Punjab State Seed Certification Authority whose head office is at SCO 837-838 Sec 22A, Chandigarh and its regional offices in Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Kotkapura, were established to oversee seed certification work in Punjab. Seed testing laboratories were established at PAU, Ludhiana and Gurdaspur. Farmers/seed entrepreneurs may visit and seek guidelines from a nearby office of seed certification authority before initiating seed production venture.
Classes of Seed:
There are four classes of seeds namely nucleus seed, breeder seed, foundation seed and certified seed, identified in this seed act.
(1) Nucleus seed of a variety is produced and maintained by the institution or breeder who developed that variety.
(2) Breeder seed is seed whose production/maintenance is directly controlled by the sponsoring plant breeder of the originating institution where that variety was developed. Breeder seed is the progeny of nucleus seed.
(3) Foundation seed shall be the progeny of breeder seed or can be produced from foundation seed under special circumstances.
(4) Certified seed shall be the progeny of foundation seed or it may be produced from certified seed under special conditions. Certification tags shall be of white colour for foundation seed, blue color (Azure blue) for certified seed and yellow colour for the breeder seed.
Foundation seed is normally produced by Government seed producing departments like PUNSEED, PAU Seed farms and big private seed companies. The foundation seed so produced is used to produce certified seed in huge quantities at farmers’ fields. The seed which is not certified by the PSSCA but otherwise it conforms to all seed and field standards is known as truthfully labeled seed (TL).
Minimum Field and Seed Certification Standards:
In order to ensure genetic purity and physical quality of the seed two types of quality standards are followed for seed production:
(1) Field standards include isolation distance, presence of off-type plants/weed plants/diseased plants in a seed crop. Isolation distance and removal of off- types is very essential to keep away any foreign pollen from spoiling the genetic quality of seed.
(2) Seed standards like seed germination, physical purity of seed, presence of weed seed/diseased seeds/other crop seeds and moisture percent in seed have also been specified. Seed producing agencies are required to observe and follow these standards for the certification of any seed production programme. It is mandatory to mention seed standards on seed tags and seed bags. Minimum field and seed standards for various crops are also given in the ‘Package of Practices’ book published by PAU, Ludhiana.
Seed Crop Inspection:
After registration of a seed production programme in the nearby office of Punjab State Seed Certification Authority, the officials of this department will visit to inspect seed crop at different stage of crop to ensure sanctity and validity of the seed and to record observation on various aspects of the seed crop and issue a crop inspection report. The seed producers must take care that their crop should be free from off-type/weeds and diseased plant as per certification standards.
How to Initiate Certified Seed Production on Commercial Scale?
(1) The new entrepreneur must have sound knowledge and required expertise in the field of seed certification and seed marketing which can be acquired by joining various training courses on seed production offered by PAU at its KVK centers or by making personal contracts with related departments such as PUNSEED, Seed Certification Authority or department of agriculture.
(2) Select a crop which suits to your area. Proper planning for required infrastructure and marketing of seed is very essential.
(3) Make a seed firm and got a seed license from Department of Agriculture.
(4) Seed production infrastructure such as seed grader for cleaning of seed, threshing flour, stores, bag closer machine are some basic requirements for a seed production enterprise.
(5) Procure foundation seed of the variety for certified seed production from Director Seed, PAU Ludhiana.
(6) Raise the crop from foundation seed and register this crop with Punjab State Seed Certification Agency (PSSCA).
(7) Remove off-type and diseased plants from the seed crop as per guidelines of the PSSCA.
(8) Harvesting, cleaning and packaging of seed should be done under the supervision of PSSCA.
Profit and Risks of Seed Production:
Seed production is basically a farmer friendly enterprise. Fanners are already producing crops but if such crops are raised by following various field and seed standards, they can convert their general crop produce into valuable seed. Besides generation of employment opportunities, seed production also offers considerable profits.
For instance, the minimum support price of wheat during the year 2014-2015 was Rs.1450 per quintal, but the certified wheat seed is being sold at Rs. 2000-2500 per quintal by various seed companies during October 2015. Profits in other cases like hybrid seed production, potato seed production, vegetable seed production and flower seed production are much higher.
There are some risk factors such as seed may remain as unsold or due to any lapse seed may fail in laboratory tests. However, in such cases there shall not be a total loss because the unsold seed produce or unfit seed may be easily disposed off as ordinary produce in the market.
In nutshell, certified seed production enterprise may be regarded as highly promising but it requires proper planning and commitment at the part of entrepreneur.