Innovations in Quality Seed Management

 

    

True Tamplin, Founder of Finance Strategists once said Innovations in quality seed management

“Modern society is built upon two things: truth, which is discovered, and innovation, which is created.“

Innovation is necessary to bring out changes in society and in world as a whole. Agriculture has been the founding subject for evolution and innovation for mankind, from a mere things ike domestication of plants to eventually making genetically modified plants like Bt Cotton.

As per Seed Act (1966) seed includes

• Seed of food crops including edible oil seeds and seeds of fruits & vegetables.
• Cotton seeds
• Seeds of cattle fodder
• Jute seeds
• Seedlings, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, roots, cuttings, all types of grafts and other vegetatively propagated material for food crops (or) cattle fodder

the quality seed should have

• High genetic purity
• High pure seed percentage ( physical purity)
• High germinability
• High vigour
• Higher field establishment
• Free from pest and disease
• Good shape, size, colour etc., according to the specification of variety
• High longevity / shelf life.
• Optimum moisture content for storage
• High market value

The agriculture is backbone of rural economy. Agriculture in India has made signifi cant growth and we are on the path of second green revolution through modern agriculturical technology

For sustainable agriculture, a good quality seed is the most basic and essential input. Other inputs are contingent upon quality of seed for being optimally effective. The Indian seed industry has played a very critical role in the growth of Indian agricultural. Agriculture in India is backed by a strong seed improvement programme involving both the public and private sectors. The Indian seed sector is highly vibrant and energetic and is well recognized internationally. Seed is the basic and most critical input for sustain agriculture. The response of all other input depends on quality of seeds to a large extent. It is estimated that the direct contribution of quality seed alone to the total production is about 15-20% depending upon the crop and it can be further raised up to 45% with effi cient management of other inputs. The developments in the seed industry in India, particularly in the last 30 years, are very signifi cant. Future of agricultural production will largely depend upon development of improved varieties/ hybrids in various crops, supported by effi cient, cost effective seed production technology. the Indian Seed Development Programme has now occupied a pivotal place in Indian agriculture and is well poised for substantial growth in the future. National Seeds Corporation, which is the largest single seed organization in the country with such a wide product range, has pioneered the growth and development of a sound seed industry in India. NSC, SFCI, States Seeds Corporations and other seed producing agencies both private and government backed are continuously and gradually expanding all their academic research industrial and social activities especially in terms of product range, volume and value of seed handled, level of seed distribution to the un-reached areas especially the poor farmers with quality seeds. Hard work of these seed producing agencies have built up a hard core of competent and experienced seed producers and seed dealers in various parts of the country and have adequate level of specialization and competence in handling and managing various segments of seed improvement on scientifically sound and commercially viable terms.

An effective seed supply system is necessary to make good quality seed available to farmers at the right time and at low cost. Given the critical role played by improved varieties in increasing production of grain and quantity and quality of stover for livestock fodder in conventional cropping systems, agriculture decision-makers have the challenge of developing an integrated and costeffective seed system that is capable of generating and delivering improved seed varieties to farmers. Such a system would be an important step toward ensuring seed security and enhancing livelihoods, particularly of dryland farmers.

Areas of innovation required in quality seed management –

Related to these challenges, seed companies also suggested areas of innovation. In this report these have been structured around the 4 main objectives of ASIESA: to Strengthen the role of the seed industry and enhance industry competitiveness at national and regional level; to Enhance company competitiveness of seed value chain enterprises; to Facilitate trade and access to markets, improve linkages with public institutions, and enhance public registration, testing and seed handling capacity, and; to Provide farmer level knowledge transfer and create demand that leads to productivity improvement.

- Innovation: Enhance industry competitiveness at national and regional level 1. Harmonization seed laws: Seed companies all feel that the seed harmonization process in SADC would be very beneficial to companies (in particular multinationals); in this way new releases do not have to take place in other SADC countries once it is released in one SADC country.

2. Fake seed distribution: To eliminate fake seed distribution seed companies suggest local seed trade associations to play a more considerable role in this field. Seed trade associations should strengthen their relation with certification agencies. seed companies feel that their seed association should be mandated to certify agrodealers and take their certification away in case of fake seed distribution. - Innovation: Enhance company competitiveness of seed value chain enterprises

3. Auctioning public varieties: In Tanzania, seed companies want the Agricultural Research Agency to license its public varieties. This licensing will be like an openbidding mechanism with some conditions (it is for example questionable whether multinationals can participate in bidding process). A license could be given for a 5- year period, and during these 5 years private companies receive exclusive rights to produce, market and promote these varieties under their own name at the market.

4. Transparency for business planning: For commercial seed enterprises to do business knowledge of and access to proper seed statistics is required. Seed companies feel that there is no reliable data/ exact figures to be able to determine seed demand based on data per district. This data can not only be obtained from agrodealers since these are also dealers for their competitors. Seed companies suggest that a platform or centre should be established that gathers and makes accessible farmer-based information per district in a central database.

5. Private land redistribution: Seed companies have a serious lack of land – in particular of irrigated land. Seed companies note the possible role Government can play here in mediating between villages and seed companies. Another way of redistributing land is by making use of private resources. An initiative trade association is to look for possibilities amongst its members for private redistribution/ selling of land. - Innovation: Facilitate trade and access to markets: linking to public institutions

6. Supportive financial mechanisms: Due to high interest rates at commercial banks and unrealistic requirements for agribusiness start-ups (including of a seed company), the Government in Tanzania is in the process of establishing the Agricultural Bank. A similar initiative is taking place in Malawi where the Farmers Union plans to incorporate a bank facility which will have considerably lower interest rates. These initiatives are very much encouraged by the private sector.

7. Incentive mechanisms for research agencies: research stations often agree that funding is a constraint in developing breeder seed. Donor funding is limited as well, and it is felt that Government should be able to provide own (sustainable) capital injections in its research institutions. Research agencies and private sector actors feel that bonus incentive schemes would help to motivate researchers to put more effort in working market oriented and reaching its end-users: the farmers.

 8. Certification agency going semi-public: Several seed stakeholders feel that the Seed Services Unit, which is responsible for certification, should become an autonomous organization. In this way it would become more business-driven and have its own financial administration. The national seed trade association, on behalf of the private sector, currently advocates to make the certification agency semipublic.

 - Innovation: Provide farmer level knowledge transfer and creation of demand

 9. Educational promotion: Many (most) farmers use own saved (or generated) seed. Most seed companies address the need for increased educational promotion of improved seed. Seed companies feel that everyone has a role to play: by NGOs using demonstration plots, by government through expert extension officers, and through stockists and agrodealers managing demonstration plots near villages of farmers. Seed companies feel that the stockists and agrodealers should receive training through joint efforts by the private and public sector, and with the help from NGOs.

10. Output marketing: Many seed chain stakeholders address the need for more focus on output marketing. In the seed sector there is a general tendency of focusing on input supply and increased production – farmers however will not see the need to increase production if there is no market or purchasing party. Agrodealers have a role to play and could be motivated to enter Buy-Back schemes as incentive mechanisms.

In the end Innovation takes birth in sync with the evolution of customer’s expectations and demands or vice versa. Either way, organizations around the world have to continually innovate themselves and keep up with the people’s wants. The failure to do so or being indifferent to your customer’s need will make your competitors win. And then suddenly, customers become indifferent to you- a high-risk gamble to play at.

source -

ICAR, Wageningen University, FAO, UNESCO, Resarch Gate