Seed Village

Seed is the starting point of agriculture and dictates ultimate productivity of other inputs. Good quality seed alone increases the yield by 15-20 per cent. To meet the potential challenge of catering to the food need of 1.4 billion people of our country by 2025, a quantum increase in agricultural productivity is very much essential and hence production and distribution of high quality seeds of improved varieties/ hybrids to the fanning community is becoming increasingly important.

Quality seed is the key input for realizing potential productivity. As the quality deteriorates during subsequent generations the old seed must be replaced with fresh lots of quality seeds. Ideally seed should be replaced every year for hybrids and every three to four years for non-hybrids. Therefore it is necessary to improve the availability of quality seeds to raise the Seed Replacement Rate (SRR).

Despite implementation of the organized seed programme, the seed replacement rate has only reached 15 per cent and there exists an alarming gap between the demand and supply of quality seeds. The non-availability of quality seeds in oilseeds and pulses is one of the main reasons for its lower seed replacement rate. The immediate increase in the productivity and production of these corps can be achieved by a higher distribution of quality seeds of new and high yielding varieties.

What is seed village?

A village, wherein trained group of fanners are involved in production ‘of seeds of various crops and cater to the needs of themselves, fellow fanners of the village and fanners of neighboring villages in appropriate time and at affordable cost is called “a seed village”.

Concept

• Organizing seed production in cluster (or) compact area
• Replacing existing local varieties with new high yielding varieties.
• Increasing the seed production
• To meet the local demand, timely supply and reasonable cost
• Self-sufficiency and self-reliance of the village
• Increasing the seed replacement rate

Features

• Seed is available at the door steps of farms at an appropriate time
• Seed availability at affordable cost even lesser than market price
• Increased confidence among the farmers about the quality because of known source of production
• Producer and consumer are mutually benefited

Advantages of Seed Village Concept

1. Solve the problem of isolation. Mainly in cross pollinated crops like maize, sunflower where it required more Isolation distance the problem will be solved by raising a single variety in a large area.
   2. Mechanization is possible from sowing to harvesting
   3. Post harvest handling of seed is easy                                                     .
   4. Because of a single variety, the problem of varietal admixture during processing, drying will be avoided
   5. Seed certification official will cover large area per unit time
   6. Totally it reduces the cost of cultivation
   7. Seed will be with high genetic, physical purity

Targets

During 12^th plan period, coverage of at least 10 percent villages under the Seed Village Programme is envisaged.