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Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Seed Project triggers quantum jump in quality seed production

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New Delhi, India
January 6, 2009

Thanks to Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Seed Project, 'Seed Production in Agricultural Crops and Fisheries', which was launched during X Five Year Plan for 2005-06 and 2006-07 has made significant impact on national seed production scenario in last three years.

Quantum jump in seed production of field crops encompassing breeder, foundation, certified and truthfully labeled seeds; in saplings/ planting material production of horticultural crops and in fry/ spawn/ fingerlings production of fisheries, has been recorded within two years of inception of the ICAR network project namely, Seed Production in Agricultural Crops and Fisheries, operating at 85 cooperating centres countrywide.

Quality seed production has increased from 2.92 lakh quintals to 8.55 lakh quintals, under horticultural crops production of saplings/ planting materials including tissue culture plantlets enhanced from 51.16 lakhs to 285.33 lakhs during 2007- 08, mushroom spawn production grown from 1003 packets to 1,38,386 packets annually during the period. Under fisheries component annual fry/ spawn/ fingerling production rose from 491.0 lakhs to 5204.32 lakhs.

As the project envisaged to strengthen the seed production and processing infrastructure at State Agricultural Universities and ICAR institutes, and also provided funds for recurring expenditure in the form of revolving fund the profit generated of Rs. 19 crores through seed production activities.

In the Review Meeting of the project organized yesterday, Dr Mangala Rai, Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR expressed satisfaction over the progress made and congratulated the scientists engaged in the implementation of the project. He however, advised to avoid complacency and stressed on demand driven seed production with greatest care for quality maintenance.

Dr. Rai informed that during XI Five Year Plan, other components important for augmenting Indian agriculture, are also being given due impetus to boost the overall agricultural growth of the country. As seed, in view of its broad definition includes all kinds of propagates capable of regenerating true to the type organisms, DG, ICAR further opined that funds provided in the project may be utilized even for multiplication of efficient strains of earth warms to support the compost preparation and its availability that in turn would enhance the soil health and its productivity.

For effective dissemination of seed related information launching of websites by all seed producing centres was stressed by Dr Mangala Rai. He felt that with enhanced and timely availability of quality seeds the day is not far away when our country would experience a 'Rainbow Revolution' covering each and every component of Indian agriculture.

About 200 participants including Vice Chancellors of State Agricultural Universities, Directors of ICAR institutes, officials from ICAR Head Quarters, scientists and seed technologists from various parts of the country participated and made deliberations in the gracious presence of DDG (Fisheries) and DDG (Horticulture), ICAR during the review meeting.

 

 

 

 

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