 "Seed shortage might spoil bumper crop party this rabi")
Despite extended rainfalls, shortage of quality seeds could spoil the winter (rabi) crop party this year.
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, while inaugurating a rabi conference recently, forecast a record wheat output this year. He estimated a higher output of other rabi crops on adequate soil moisture due to rainfalls.
But, J S Sandhu, agriculture commissioner, department of agriculture & cooperation (agriculture ministry), estimated a severe shortage of quality seed this rabi season. Sandhu estimated quality seed of wheat may remain in short supply.
Preliminary estimates by Sandhu indicate a minor shortfall in the supply of seeds in the coming sowing of winter crops. Any expansion in sowing area, as widely estimated due to soil moisture, could increase further the requirement of seed. Since, there is no immediate plan to raise supply, the estimated deficit may remain wider.
Quality seed is the most critical of all agricultural inputs and determines the performance and efficiency of other inputs for enhancing productivity and production and thereby the income of farmers. It is essential that adequate seeds with good genetic potential are produced in sufficient quantity at an affordable price and made available to farmers for achieving higher production.
Most important, the supply of quality seeds is not a one-time affair. The seed is to be produced in every growing season every year. To produce certified seeds from breeder seeds, at least three years are required. It has been assessed that to achieve food production targets, there is a need for replacing the existing Seed Replacement Ratio (SRR) by increasing it at the rate of 33 per cent for self-pollinated crops, 50 per cent for cross-pollinated and 100 per cent for hybrids.
More, India often gets affected by natural calamities of different magnitude and type. When the normal seasonal (kharif /rabi) agricultural programme gets stalled, a contingency plan is resorted to.
Often, the contingency plan also gets stalled for non- availability of seeds. Vulnerable states have to take action in advance to produce the required variety of seeds through their seed-producing agencies rather than depending on outside state agencies. The seeds are then kept in a bank.
Many states have prepared a long-term seed plan (2013-14 to 2016-17) based on their agro-climatic conditions, crop varieties, targeted SRR (seed required for normal conditions and seed required for contingency situations).
The agriculture ministry urged states to execute memoranda of understanding with seed producers for supply of the required quantity of certified quality seeds for different crops to ensure their timely availability.
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, while inaugurating a rabi conference recently, forecast a record wheat output this year. He estimated a higher output of other rabi crops on adequate soil moisture due to rainfalls.
But, J S Sandhu, agriculture commissioner, department of agriculture & cooperation (agriculture ministry), estimated a severe shortage of quality seed this rabi season. Sandhu estimated quality seed of wheat may remain in short supply.
Preliminary estimates by Sandhu indicate a minor shortfall in the supply of seeds in the coming sowing of winter crops. Any expansion in sowing area, as widely estimated due to soil moisture, could increase further the requirement of seed. Since, there is no immediate plan to raise supply, the estimated deficit may remain wider.
Quality seed is the most critical of all agricultural inputs and determines the performance and efficiency of other inputs for enhancing productivity and production and thereby the income of farmers. It is essential that adequate seeds with good genetic potential are produced in sufficient quantity at an affordable price and made available to farmers for achieving higher production.
Most important, the supply of quality seeds is not a one-time affair. The seed is to be produced in every growing season every year. To produce certified seeds from breeder seeds, at least three years are required. It has been assessed that to achieve food production targets, there is a need for replacing the existing Seed Replacement Ratio (SRR) by increasing it at the rate of 33 per cent for self-pollinated crops, 50 per cent for cross-pollinated and 100 per cent for hybrids.
More, India often gets affected by natural calamities of different magnitude and type. When the normal seasonal (kharif /rabi) agricultural programme gets stalled, a contingency plan is resorted to.
Often, the contingency plan also gets stalled for non- availability of seeds. Vulnerable states have to take action in advance to produce the required variety of seeds through their seed-producing agencies rather than depending on outside state agencies. The seeds are then kept in a bank.
Many states have prepared a long-term seed plan (2013-14 to 2016-17) based on their agro-climatic conditions, crop varieties, targeted SRR (seed required for normal conditions and seed required for contingency situations).
The agriculture ministry urged states to execute memoranda of understanding with seed producers for supply of the required quantity of certified quality seeds for different crops to ensure their timely availability.