Indian Seed Industry Overview

Principles of Seed Technology

• Seeds are an important agricultural input for boosting production and quality.
• Quality seed makes a 10-15% difference in productivity (ICAR 1993).
• Seed production is a systematic crop production involving adequate care from seed purchase to harvest.
• Seed production leads to higher income and high-quality seeds for sowing.

Seed vs. Crop Production

• Basic seed should be authentic.
• Seed plot is selected carefully based on environmental conditions.
• Isolation from other varieties is needed.
• Technical skill to maintain quality is needed.
• Genetic purity is important.
• Roguing is practiced.
• Harvesting is done at physiological or harvestable maturity.
• Resultant seed should be vigorous and viable.
• Importance is given to seed quality over yield.

Varietal vs. Hybrid Seed Production

• Varietal Seed Production Characteristics:*
• Single-parent multiplication, less isolation needed, and open pollination.
• Seeds used continuously for 3-5 generations and production is uniform.
• Less production care needed.
• Yield and profit are lower.
• Hybrid Seed Production Characteristics:*
• Requires two or more parents, greater isolation, and controlled pollination.
• Seeds are replaced every time, and production techniques are variable.
• More production care yields higher profit, produce higher overall yield.

Importance of Seed Production

• Indian food grain production increased from 50 million tons in 1947 to 212 million tons in 2003-04.
• High-quality seeds are pivotal for crop yield.
• Low-quality seeds nullify agronomic practices.
• Seed cost as a small component of total production cost.
• High-quality seeds must have genetic purity, physical and health quality.
• Sindhur Sen (1974) stated lack of seed quality leads to frustration.
• National Seeds Policy 2002 aims to enhance seed replacement rates.
• Key areas of focus are varietal development, seed production, breeder seed responsibility, and incentives for the domestic industry.
• After the NSP, NSE & SSC, and private seed companies, certified and foundation seed production increased.
• Strengths in the Indian seed market include seed multiplication systems and the 20 seed certification agencies.
• Weaknesses include weather issues, inadequate data, and maintenance of isolation.
• India's seed industry is the 8th largest worldwide, estimated at INR 49 billion (USD 1.06 Billion).
• A well-developed seed multiplication and distribution system exits.
• Seed production faces problems like variable weather, poor data, and difficulty maintaining isolation.

Factors Affecting Demand

• Cropping pattern and intensity must be considered
• Distinguish between Actual demand, perceived demand and government expectations
• Crucial factors are climate, demand for crop products, disposable income, adoption of technology, government policy, product performance and price.
• Sales forecasting requires attention to product performance, pricing and promotion.

Seed Demand Forecasting

• Requires estimation of demand to avoid financial problems for seed companies.
• Seed programs have long development times, face seasonal issues, and subject to climatic conditions, and statutory controls.
• Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) measures replacement of seeds with new varieties.
• In India, seed production can be taken up as a small-scale industry or under contract.

Scope for Seed Export

• Indian companies can market seeds in countries between 30° North and South latitudes.
• India can export seed to Indonesia, Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka, and African countries.
• Indian cotton hybrids are suitable for African countries.
• The domestic hybrid seed market is placed at INR 4.9 Billion with 10% annual growth.

Export Opportunities

Opportunities can be mainly classified into two major categories.

• Custom production of vegetable seeds (including hybrid vegetables)
• Export of branded seeds Agri Export Zones (AEZ) promote agricultural exports.

Seed Policy

• The Seed Act, 1966 promotes and regulates the Indian Seed Industry.
• The "New Seed Policy" of 1988 allowed for the import of commercial seed, vegetables, flowers and cereals and reduced import restrictions. Important constraints were Non existence of National Seed Policy IPR laws Restrictions and licenses on seed exports and imports.
• In 2002, India developed a National Seed Policy to provide an appropriate the seed industry climate, safegaurd the interest of Indian farmers and conserve for agro-biodiversity. Key focus areas included varietal development, seed production, quality assurance, and infrastructure.

Varietal Development and Seed Program Initiatives

• PVPFRA implemented via PVPFR Act, 2001.
• Plant varieties registered based on distinctness, uniformity, and stability characteristics (DUS).
• Farmers can save, use, exchange, share or sell seeds of protected variety
• Researches can use seed / planting material of protected varieties can be used for research and breeding new varieties.
• Seed program adheres to nucleus, breeder, foundation and certified seed generation multiplication.
• Public seed sector maintained through free access to breeder sector.
• Seed village Scheme facilitates farmers to the quality of farmers seed saving practices.
• Seed Replacement increased progressivley.
• Nation Seed Map prepared to identify potential area of seed production
• cold storage established for long term seed storage

Quality Assurance and Other Thrust Areas

1. New Seed Act is to be enacted to ensure that national standards are met
2. National Seed Board will be established as apex body.
3. National Seed Registry will be maintained for varieties of registrated seed.
4. farmers have protected right to save use and share and sell seeds, subject to brand.
5. Seed Distribution subject to registry in National Seed Board
6. National Seed Grid will be established as date base for seeds. Access to finance for distribution to farmers facilitated.

Other thrust areas include:

• Infrastructure facilities such as seed, research and training centers.
• Promotion of domestic seed industry
• Sterngthening the monitoring system
• Focus on transgenic plant varieties

Seed Demand Forecasting, Seed Replacement Rate (SRR (%), and Factors Affecting Demand.

• Accurate forecasting in seed demand is critical due to special features of the seed industry.
• Seed programs have long development times, harvest issues, and are subject to external conditions.
• Cropping pattern and intensity affect seed programs.
• Actual demand, perceived demand, and government expectations of certified seed needs considered.
• Statutory controls and quality standards control production
• Germination must be ensured

Important Facts About Seed Deterioration

• Decline in seed purity caused by several factors over crop cycles.
• Causes of declined purity includes are variations, mechanical mixtures, mutations, natural crossing, genetic variation and influence of pests.

Managing Genetic Purity

• Approved seeds used in seed multiplication, with field inspection and approval.
• Crops inspected and approved to determine genetic purity, detection of mixtures and weeds.
• Samples can be tested for comparison with authentics stocks for accurate identification.
• Isolation important prevent contamination
• Roguing help eliminate contaminated seeds

Seed Quality

• Seeds are basic agricultural input. The characteristics of high quality seed must have physiological soundness and proper health • A ripened ovule with an embryo • A dry dispersal or matured ovule after fertilization • Any plant which can regenerate a new plant

Seed vs. Grain

• Seed is viable; grain may not be.
• Seed needs maximum genetic and physical purity as well minimum certification
• The Seed but never be treated with chemicals, since used for consumption.
• The Respiration rate for seeds kept at low levels, certified and labeled

Importance of Seed

• High quality seeds are vital seeds is the yield to yield to crop production. This ensures other inputs are realized like fertilizer and maintenance • Seed aids New technologies in agricultural practices (e.g. high-yielding varieties) • Basic assistance for secured supplies • Key in adverse conditions • Rapid in cases of natural disaster

Key Components of Physical Seed Quality

• Cleanliness: Should be free of debris and damages by insects
• Genetics: Seeds must be of true type and resemble their mother seed
• Physiological: There must be liveley characteristics and seed vigour
• Health: Status where, it is free from insects, bacterial. Seeds should be disease free.

Physical Purity Percentages for Certification

• 99%: Maize, Bhendi
• 98%: All crops (most)
• 95%: Carrot
• 97%: Sesame, soybean, jute
• 96%: Peanut
• Higher-purity seeds must have specified shape, size, colour, physical solidity, mass, and optimum storage capacity.
• must be free of designated diseases.
• Must be certified by the appropriate certification board

Seed Qualities : SRR (%), Seed and Crop Requirements

• Seed replacement rate: Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) is the rate at which farmers re-purchase seeds instead of personal stock
• the right level, can lead to good genetic and physical quality improvement

Classes of Seed

Classes of seed are: Breeder. Seed or vegetatively propagative originating or controlled breeding. Foundation: Progeny of breeder Registered: Progeny of foundation approved purity controlled and certified by agent Certified: Progeny of foundation maintained genetics tested and certified.

Key Steps in Seed Multiplication and Maintenance

• Select clean, high quality fields used to product consistent, quality seeds
• Implement roguing processes by removing impure seeds and pollens early in the growth stage
• Make quality management plan for all process
• Control process
• Improve process

Maize characteristics: Floral biology

• Botanical name:* Zea mays
• Chromosome number:* 2n=20
• Botanical Family*: Poaceae
• Inflorescence*: Panicle cob, as the crop is monoceious in nature
• The entire silk is receptive. Silk will be pinkish and sticky at the beginning (receptive) after fertilizati

Method of seeds production in maize

• Raise the varieties under isolation of 400 m in foundation seed stage and 200 m
• For foundation seed production, breeder seed used as base while foundation as second best. The rate of commercial used is 20kg for hectacre or 8kg acres
• Seeds are soaked in 2% KH2PO4 for 16h with a seed to solution ratio of 1:0.06 Plant spacing Row spacing Seeds also treated a spacing of 45 x 10 cm or 60 x 20 cm at a depth of 2-4

Maize: Seed Maturation

• 14-20 milk stage. physiological maturity attained after 30-35 days
• Seed moisure stage will be in 25-30% range, the sheath of cab dries and obtains a dry straw yelllow colour of maturity

HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION IN MAIZE

• It is a cross between 2 inbreds. A x B. A genotype will be detasseled and crossed with B genotypes in manual labour setting
• Single cross hybrid is COH 1- UMI 29 x UMI 51
• COH 2- UMI 810 x UMI 90
• COH(M) 5-UMI 285 X UMI 61

Maize: Double Cross and Three Way Crosses

• The crosses cross between a single cross. Inbred with approved certified strains of the variety. A with tassle and B variety
• EX: Ganga -5 (CM 202 x CM 111) × CM 500
• COH (M) 4 (UMI 90 x UMI 285) x UMI 112
• To maximise produce and ensure correct cross for type, 5% roguiging is permitted.
• To monitor and test veritfy at the end if plants met all requirements. Hybrid seed production occurs before winter.
• Planting is staggered to get synchronisat

Seed Production Techniques in Paddy Varieties

• Botanical Name :* Oryza sativa
• Chromosome number [2n] :* 24 Family Poaceae
• Panicle Length: 4—5 days after both of the leaf emerge* Female opening : tip of primary and secon

Stages of seed production

• In paddy depending on the demand 3 or 4 of 5 stages of seed multiplication under seed certifications
• The land and environment should we be maintained in all production for top quality harvest.
• Use authentication methods of harvest
• Follow the standard seed managem

Overview of the Indian seed industry, seed production responsibilities, crop categories and the challenges that remain to optimize seed production. Analysis of seed production and distribution systems.