Quality seed plays crucial role in realising true genetic potential of the any variety and transferring genetic gain to the farmers. New varieties developed by breeders backed by apt seed production programme leads to rapid spread of new varieties at farmers’ doorstep. It is well proven fact that, use of quality seed of improved varieties contributes towards 15-20% increase in agricultural productivity. Therefore, it is imperative that quality seed production at farmers’ field to be strengthened and maximum number of farmers to be encouraged for quality seed production at own farm. These will results in assured seed supply of newly released varieties at faster pace and genetic gain achieved by plant breeding can be effectively transformed up to farmers’ field. However, farmer’s awareness towards use of quality seed needs to be improved in order to achieve higher Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) and varietal Replacement Rate (VRR) of the country. Efforts are being made by various Govt. agencies, State Department of Agriculture, ICAR Institutes and SAU’s to engage farmers through participatory seed production programme and extension programme and disseminate know- how of quality seed production at faster rate.
Quality Seed, production techniques, Newly Released, Wheat Varieties, North West Plain, Conditions, SRR, VRR
Anonymous. 2020. Progress Report, All India Coordinated Wheat and Barley Improvement Project 2019-20. Barley Improvement. ICAR-IIWBR, Karnal. P. 234.
Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards. 2013. Published by Central Seed Certification Board, Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India.
Sharma AK., Singh S. K., Sendhil R. & Kumar R. (2018). Participatory Seed Production in Wheat and Barley for Enhancing Farm Income. Training manual “Strengthening value chain in Wheat and Barley for doubling famers’ income: published by ICAR-IIWBR, Karnal. Pp: 83-91.
