Shishir Kumar
Hazaribagh
Jharkhand would soon be self dependent for fulfilling its requirement of seed in the State. The target would achieved by the ‘seed villages’ that are being established by the Birsa Agriculture University at different farming area of the state.
“The seed village concept will suit large-scale cultivation of high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat. We have already started 14 seed villages that are operation in different districts of Jharkhand. The university plans to have more such units in other parts of the state so that the Jharkhand can produce the amount of seeds required for the production of the seeds,” BN Singh, director, Research BAU said.
Talking to the media persons at a seed processing unit at Gauria Karma in Hazaribagh, he said hybrid seeds for the less cultivated crops such as millets and maize had been monopolised, since they were `low volume-high value' products, whereas hybrid seeds for rice and wheat were `high volume-high value'. Since private companies could not cater to all the needs of farmers, the concept would facilitate community- level cultivation of hybrid seeds.
Singh said that BAU introduced seed production programmes through selected villages. For this, a seed village in a cluster of villages, and seed clubs at the village level were developed. BAU demonstrated the seed production technology at its instructional farm. Seed villages/seed clubs are producing seeds under close supervision and guidance of BAU scientists. The seeds produced in these villages are bold and healthy
Singh said that the state government had taken the first initiative in this direction. “The government had allotted us 2000 hectare of land for the production of breeder seeds. These are seed or vegetative propagating material, increased by the originating, sponsoring plant breeder or institution, used as the source for the increase of foundation seed,” he added.
He said that the seed produced are then sent to the different processing units of the seed village. Seed stocks increased from breeder seed, and so handled as to closely maintain the genetic identity and purity of a variety. Foundation seed is the source of certified seed, either directly or through registered seed, he added.
Hazaribagh
Jharkhand would soon be self dependent for fulfilling its requirement of seed in the State. The target would achieved by the ‘seed villages’ that are being established by the Birsa Agriculture University at different farming area of the state.
“The seed village concept will suit large-scale cultivation of high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat. We have already started 14 seed villages that are operation in different districts of Jharkhand. The university plans to have more such units in other parts of the state so that the Jharkhand can produce the amount of seeds required for the production of the seeds,” BN Singh, director, Research BAU said.
Talking to the media persons at a seed processing unit at Gauria Karma in Hazaribagh, he said hybrid seeds for the less cultivated crops such as millets and maize had been monopolised, since they were `low volume-high value' products, whereas hybrid seeds for rice and wheat were `high volume-high value'. Since private companies could not cater to all the needs of farmers, the concept would facilitate community- level cultivation of hybrid seeds.
Singh said that BAU introduced seed production programmes through selected villages. For this, a seed village in a cluster of villages, and seed clubs at the village level were developed. BAU demonstrated the seed production technology at its instructional farm. Seed villages/seed clubs are producing seeds under close supervision and guidance of BAU scientists. The seeds produced in these villages are bold and healthy
Singh said that the state government had taken the first initiative in this direction. “The government had allotted us 2000 hectare of land for the production of breeder seeds. These are seed or vegetative propagating material, increased by the originating, sponsoring plant breeder or institution, used as the source for the increase of foundation seed,” he added.
He said that the seed produced are then sent to the different processing units of the seed village. Seed stocks increased from breeder seed, and so handled as to closely maintain the genetic identity and purity of a variety. Foundation seed is the source of certified seed, either directly or through registered seed, he added.
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