Seed is the basic and crucial input for sustained growth in agricultural production. Seeds are not only the repository of the genetic potential of crop species, but are also the carrier of other technologies. Quality seed acts as a catalyst for realizing the potential of all other inputs in agriculture. It is estimated that direct contribution of quality seed alone in crop production is about 15-20%. Strong public crop breeding research programmes have resulted in the development of a number of high yielding varieties and hybrids. After the release of varieties, seed multiplication is most essential and pre-requisite activity for ensuring the continuous availability of quality seeds of improved varieties to farmers at affordable prices and appropriate time.
In order to ensure the availability of high quality seeds of the improved varieties, considerable progress has been made with respect to development of technologies relevant to seed production, processing, testing, quality control, seed treatment, storage etc. However, farmers' access to quality seed is adversely affected by many factors such as; lack of information about adaptation of different crops/varieties, inefficient seed quality assurance and supply systems, inadequate access to inputs, credit facilities and policy support. This necessitates to bring together the seed scientists, state govt. officials, extension personnel, policy makers and seed industry leaders of the country as well as farmers to review the progress made in seed sector and discuss the new leads, novel technologies in seed multiplication, testing, processing, storage, quality assurance, marketing and distribution; seed policies and legislations, problems and opportunities in the domestic seed supply and export markets, IPR and seed trade issues. In this regard, 10th National Seed Congress will provide a unique forum for the formulation of policies and technology strategies to ensure the welfare and economic prosperity of the farmers though seed-based interventions.
The 10 National Seed Congress is being jointly organized by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi in collaboration with National Seed Research & Training Centre, Varanasi, U.P., MoA & FW, Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture & Farmer Welfare and Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Govt. of India was the Chief Guest of the function.
