State asks agri varsities to focus on producing breeder seeds Staff Reporter : Universities to also assess what percentage of breeder seeds fail germination test and plan for producing additional stock to meet demand Inadequate availability of breeder seeds is affecting production of certified seeds in the State. As a result farmers have to depend upon other seeds or straight variant seeds. This ultimately affects productivity and yield of the crops which leads to fall in income of farmers. This year this problem has attracted attention of the State Government and it has issued certain guidelines to fix responsibility of agricultural universities regarding adequate production of breeder seeds. The responsibility of adequate production of breeder seeds is on agricultural universities. Considering this Agriculture Department of State Government has issued certain guidelines to fix their accountability and develop transparency in the process. Accordingly agricultural universities in the State have been given the responsibility of producing breeder seeds prepare plan for the same and focus energies on this instead of certified and other seeds. If a university has developed some variety of a crop it should go for production of breeder seeds for the same under the supervision of respective crop producer. It has been made mandatory for the university concerned to supply breeder seeds of the variety it has developed states a circular signed by Umesh Chandiwade Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Department recently. The circular has been circulated to Vice-Chancellors of all agricultural universities as well as Joint Directors of Agriculture and District Superintendent Agriculture Officers. The university is expected to produce nucleus seed for the variety for production of breeder seeds and keep records and have proper accounting of nucleus seeds. Director (Research) has been asked to verify these records on a regular basis. Central Government informs the agricultural universities about target for production of breeder seeds. Mahabeej National Seeds Corporation and farmer producer companies also place their demand. The agricultural university concerned has now been asked to compile all these demands and then process it to Commissionerate of Agriculture. Mahabeej National Seeds Corporation and farmer producer companies have been asked to place their demand up to April 15 that is two months prior to commencement of Kharif season sowing operations. They have been asked to deposit in advance 20 per cent amount of procurement price of breeder seeds with the university concerned. Mahabeej will get prority in supply. If the respective company does not lift the stock for which it has placed demand the university concerned may forfeit the deposit amount states the circular. In many cases breeder seeds fail the germination test. This affects production of breeder seeds in required quantity. Climatic factors also affect the production of breeder seeds. The agricultural universities have been asked to assess as to what percentage of breeder seeds fail germination test and then increase the area of production of these seeds accordingly. Germination test should be conducted in November every year. The seed testing laboratories have been asked to mandatorily issue results of tests to the university concerned within 15 days of receiving the sample. If required the universities should take up corrective programme in summer season to produce additional stock so as to compensate for loss due to failure of germination test and also to meet the demand. The agricultural universities have been asked to take up production of especially oilseeds and cereals.

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