Call to raise seed replacement rate

Expressing concern over the low seed replacement rate (SRR) in the country, S Raghuvardhan Reddy, vice-chancellor of the Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), said, "The SRR needs to be raised to 30 per cent for self-pollinated crops, 50 per cent for cross-pollinated crops and 100 per cent for hybrid crops."

The present SRR is as low as 15 per cent in the case of self-pollinated crops such as rice and wheat. "The SRR still remains low despite increase in the seed production over a period of time in terms of area "� from about 500 hectares in the 1960s to around 2 lakh hectares in 2004-05 "� as well as in terms of quantity of 130 lakh quintals," he said.

Reddy was speaking at the inaugural session of the XII National Seed Seminar on 'Prosperity through Quality Seed' at the ANGRAU auditorium today. The seminar is being co-hosted by ANGRAU in association with the Indian Society of Seed Technology (ISST).

Chairman of AP Netherlands Biotechnology Programme, M V Rao, in his address, said that Andhra Pradesh with a thriving and vigorous seed sector had contributed to more than 30 per cent of the total hybrid seed produced in the country.

"Andhra Pradesh is like the seed capital of the country," Rao said. Stating that agriculture would be strong only if the seed programme was strong, he said, "Production of hybrids is just not enough. A good support mechanism is also equally important."

Gautam Kalloo, president of ISST, said that the task at hand was to once again bring back those varieties and hybrids that were out of the production chain.

The three-day seminar brings eminent speakers and policy-makers from across the country to share and deliberate on some of the issues being faced by the seed industry such as seed quality assurance, testing of GM seeds and role of hybrid seeds in various crops towards achieving prosperity.

Apart from presentation of scientific papers, there will be panel discussions on new seed Bill, IPR issues, and HRD and Infrastructure development. Over 250 delegates from across the country representing various agricultural institutions, state agricultural universities and the seed industry will participate.