In general, seed certification is a process designed to maintain and make
available to the general public continuous supply of high quality seeds and
propagating materials of notified kinds and varieties of crops, so grown and
distributed to ensure the physical identity and genetic purity. Seed
certification is a legally sanctioned system for quality control of seed
multiplication and production.
(i)
History of Seed Certification
The origin of the concept of seed certification dates back to the earlier part
of the twentieth century. The seed certification concept grew out of the
increased concern for the rapid loss of identity of varieties during production
cycles. For this, credit should go to the Swedish workers who are the first to
initiate the process of field evaluation of the seed crops. It began with the
visits of agronomists and plant breeders to the fields of progressive farmers
who took the seeds of new varieties from the. This was primarily to educate
them on seed production. This initiated the process of field inspection
and later on found to be very helpful in keeping varieties pure in the
production chain, but other problems appeared. To overcome some of these
problems, scientists from USA and Canada met in Chicago, Illinois in 1919 and
formed an International Crop Improvement Association (ICIA), which later on
1969 changed its name to Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies
(AOSCA) paving the way for modern day seed certification.
In India the field evaluation of the seed crop and its certification started
with the establishment of National Seeds Corporation in 1963. A legal status
was given to seed certification with the enactment of first Indian Seed Act in
the year 1966 and formulation of Seed Rules in 1968. The Seed Act of 1966
provided the required impetus for the establishment of official Seed
Certification Agencies by the States. Maharashtra was the first State to
establish an official Seed Certifications Agency during 1970 as a part of the Department
of Agriculture, whereas Karnataka was the first State to establish the Seed
Certification Agency as an autonomous body during 1974. At present 22
States in the country have their own Seed Certification Agencies established
under the Seed Act, 1966. In great majority of the countries in the World,
including India, seed certification is voluntary and labelling is compulsory.
(ii) Objective of
Seed Certification
The main objective of the Seed Certification is to ensure the acceptable
standards of seed viability, vigour, purity and seed health. A well organized
seed certification should help in accomplishing the following three primary
objectives.
·
The systematic increase of superior varieties;
·
The identification of new varieties and their rapid
increase under appropriate
and generally accepted names.
and generally accepted names.
·
Provision for continuous supply of comparable
material by careful maintenance.
(iii)
Eligibility requirements for certification
Any variety
to become eligible for seed certification should meet the following
requirement:
- General requirements;
- Field standards;
- Specific requirements
;
- Seed Standards;
(iv)
General requirements
- Should be a notified
variety under Section-5 of the Indian Seed Act, 1966.
- Should be in the
production chain and its pedigree should be traceable.
(v)
Field standards
Field standards include the selection of site, isolation requirements, spacing,
planting ratio, border rows etc.
(vi)
Specific Requirements
Presence of off-types in any seed crop, pollen-shedders in Sorghum,
Bajra, Sunflower etc., Shedding tassels in maize crosses, disease
affected plants, objectionable weed plants etc., should be within the maximum
permissible levels for certification.
(vii)
Seed Certification Agencies
Seeds Act, 1966 provides for the establishment of Seed Certification Agencies
in each State. Seed Certification Agency should function on the following broad
principles:
- Seed Certification agency
should be an autonomous body.
- Seed Certification
Agency should not involve itself in the production and marketing of seeds.
- The Seed Certification
Standards and procedures adapted by seed certification agency should be
uniform, throughout the country.
- Seed Certification
Agency should have close linkage with the technical and other related
institutions.
- Its long-term
objective should be to operate on no-profit no-loss basis.
- Adequate staff trained
in seed certification should be maintained by the Certification Agency.
- It should have
provision for creating adequate facilities for ensuring timely and through
inspections.
- It should serve the
interests of seed producers and farmers/users.
(viii)
Organizational set-up of a Seed Certification Agency
Organization and establishment of a Seed Certification Agency needs careful
planning. In planning one should take into consideration the pertinent data
about anticipated acreage for certification of various crops/varieties, area of
operation, farm sizes etc. The organizational set up of the Certification
Agency includes Board of Directors, technical and other staff for operating the
programme. Seed Certification Agency may have its own seed testing laboratory
or it may get its seed samples tested through seed testing laboratories.
(ix)
Seed certification consists of the following control measures:
An Administrative check on the origin of the propagating material: Source seed verification is
the first step in Seed Certification Programme. Unless the seed is from
approved source and of designated class certification agency will not accept
the seed field for certification, thereby ensuring the use of high quality true
to type seed for sowing of seed crops.
Field Inspection : Evaluation of the growing crop in the field for varietal purity, isolation of seed crop is to prevent out-cross, physical admixtures, disease dissemination and also ensure crop condition as regards to the spread of designated diseases and the presence of objectionable weed plants etc.
Sample inspection: assessing the planting value of the seeds by laboratory tests. Certification agency draws representative samples from the seeds produced under certification programme and subjects them to germination and other purity tests required for conforming to varietal purity.
Bulk Inspection: Under certification programme provision has been made for bulk inspection. Hence, the evaluation of the lot for the purpose of checking homogeneity of the bulk seed produced as compared with the standard sample is carried out. This gives an idea about the genuinity of lot and sample.
Control plot testing: Here the samples drawn from the source and final seed produced are grown side by side along with the standard samples of the variety in question. By comparison it can be determined whether the varietal purity and health of the produced seed are equal to the results based on field inspection.
Grow-out test: Evaluation of the seeds for their genuineness to species or varieties or seed borne infection. Here the samples drawn from the lots are grown in the field along with the standard checks. Growing plants are observed for the varietal purity. Grow-out test helps in the elimination of the sub-standard seed lots.
Field Inspection : Evaluation of the growing crop in the field for varietal purity, isolation of seed crop is to prevent out-cross, physical admixtures, disease dissemination and also ensure crop condition as regards to the spread of designated diseases and the presence of objectionable weed plants etc.
Sample inspection: assessing the planting value of the seeds by laboratory tests. Certification agency draws representative samples from the seeds produced under certification programme and subjects them to germination and other purity tests required for conforming to varietal purity.
Bulk Inspection: Under certification programme provision has been made for bulk inspection. Hence, the evaluation of the lot for the purpose of checking homogeneity of the bulk seed produced as compared with the standard sample is carried out. This gives an idea about the genuinity of lot and sample.
Control plot testing: Here the samples drawn from the source and final seed produced are grown side by side along with the standard samples of the variety in question. By comparison it can be determined whether the varietal purity and health of the produced seed are equal to the results based on field inspection.
Grow-out test: Evaluation of the seeds for their genuineness to species or varieties or seed borne infection. Here the samples drawn from the lots are grown in the field along with the standard checks. Growing plants are observed for the varietal purity. Grow-out test helps in the elimination of the sub-standard seed lots.
(x)
Phases of Seed Certification
Seed Certification is carried out in six broad phases listed as under:
i. Verification of seed source, class and other requirements
of the seed used for raising the seed crop.
ii. Receipt and scrutiny of application.
iii. Inspection of the seed crop in the field to verify its conformity to the prescribed field standards.
iv. Supervision at post-harvest stages including processing and packing.
v. Drawing of samples and arranging for analysis to verify conformity to the seed standards; and
vi. Grant of certificate, issue of certification tags, labelling, sealing etc.
ii. Receipt and scrutiny of application.
iii. Inspection of the seed crop in the field to verify its conformity to the prescribed field standards.
iv. Supervision at post-harvest stages including processing and packing.
v. Drawing of samples and arranging for analysis to verify conformity to the seed standards; and
vi. Grant of certificate, issue of certification tags, labelling, sealing etc.
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