Certified seed production leads to better quality and yield

Certified seed production: You must have heard the saying “As you sow, so shall you reap.” In the context of farming, this is absolutely true. Because the quality of the seed you sow will determine the quality of the crop you will harvest, it is very important to have good-quality seeds. If seed production is improved, then the quality of the crop will also be improved.

(Certified Seed Production):

Just as a strong foundation makes a strong building, a good quality seed will produce a good crop. Certified seeds play an important role in farming. These are seeds that meet all the standards of the seed certification agency. Certified seeds are the offspring of foundation seeds, which are certified if they are found to meet the standards set by the certification agency. Certified seed production is the foundation of good farming and quality crops.

Seed bags have a green label from the producer and a blue tag from the seed certification agency. The tag bears the signature of a representative of the agency. By producing certified seeds, farmers can make a good income for themselves and also provide quality seeds to others, which helps other farmers to get good yields.

Institutions that provide certified seeds

In our country, many institutions provide certified seeds to farmers at low prices and on time. These institutions are the National Seed Corporation (NSC), State Seed Corporations (SSCs), State Seed Certification Agencies (SSCAs), Agricultural Science Centers, etc.

Farmers should produce seeds themselves

Instead of relying on others for seeds, if farmers themselves produce quality seeds, they will benefit twice. One, the crop will be good, and second, they can earn extra income by selling seeds. For quality seeds, farmers keep the seeds of healthy plants safe for the next crop and store them only after drying them well.

To ensure the quality of seeds, there is a provision for seed certification, which is the responsibility of the state seed certification agency. Farmers can obtain a certification or quality certificate from this agency after seed production, after which the price of their seeds automatically increases.

Selection of good seeds

If you are planting crops for seed production, always choose good-quality seeds for sowing. That means selecting seeds that are fully mature, dry and have a high germination capacity. These seeds should be free from pests and not mixed with seeds from other crops or contaminants. Additionally, they should be free from debris and stones.

Selection of Field

If you want to produce certified seeds, then sow in a field where the same crop has not been planted for the past one or two years. Otherwise, the seeds from the previous crop may contaminate the field, leading to a decline in the genetic quality of the seeds.

Verification of seed source

Foundation seeds are used for the production of certified seeds. The seed certification agency verifies the seed source from the bill, empty bag/bag, and tag during inspection.

Make sure to inspect the crop
It is very important to inspect crops at the stage of flowering or when the crop is about to ripen. During this period, at least two inspections should be done. While inspecting the crop, make sure that there are no unwanted plants in the seed crop, because if the unwanted plants are more than the specified limit, the crop will be cancelled.

Lab Test

After the seeds are prepared, samples are taken by the certification agency and sent to the lab for testing. If a sample does not meet the seed standards, it is rejected. Seeds that meet all standards are given a certificate. After the sample is passed, the seeds are placed in the specified packaging and a tag is attached to the seeds from the certification agency.