H.P. State Seed & Organic Produce Certification Agency

We help maintain, provide and make available, high quality seeds of notified varieties and propagating materials.

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HPSSOPCA

Seed is a basic input of agriculture, which plays big role in production and productivity

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HPSSOPCA

The State of Himachal Pradesh is endowed by nature with diverse climatic conditions and ample natural resources

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The main objective of the H.P. State Seed & Organic Produce Certification Agency is to maintain, provide and make available to the public high quality seeds of notified varieties and propagating materials and to ensure their genetic identity, known pedigree, high varietal purity and good seedling value.

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Introduction

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The State of Himachal Pradesh is endowed by nature with diverse climatic conditions and ample natural resources. As per the census of 2001, the population of the State is 60.80 lac and the density is 109 persons per square km. Out of this population, about 83% are directly or indirectly dependent on Agriculture. The total geographical area is 55.67 lac Hect., area of operational holding is about 9.79 lac hect. and operated by 9.14 lac. farmers. The average holding size is about 1.1 hect. Distribution of land holding according to 2000-01 Agriculture Census shows that 86.4% of the total holdings are small and Marginal. About 13.2% of holdings are owned by Semi Medium and Medium farmers and only 0.4% by Large farmers.

The major crops of the state are maize, paddy, millets and pulses during kharif; wheat, barley, gram and other pulses during Rabi. Maize and paddy occupy about 88.4% of the total cropped area in Kharif. During Rabi, wheat and barley occupy about 95.4% of the area. In this way these 4 crops constitute more than 90% of the cropped area in both the seasons.

Seed is a basic input for agriculture which plays big role in production and productivity of the crops. Realizing the importance of good, healthy and genetically pure seed, Government of India enacted The Seeds Act during the Year 1966 and recommended the State Governments for setting-up Seed Certification Agencies in the State under Section 8 of The Seeds Act. The National Commission of Agriculture reviewed the Indian seed industry from different angles and made some of the following important recommendations in its final report:

1. Seed industry to be expanded on commercial lines.
2. Rigorous enforcement of The Seeds Act.
3.Compulsory certification for seeds of hybrids and vegetatively propagated crops.
4. Grow out tests to form integral part of seed testing.
5. Seed processing to be made compulsory.

The Government of India recommended for setting up the State Seed Certification Agencies under Section 8 of the Seeds Act, 1966. The Certification Agencies have been established as autonomous bodies in different states. The Government of Himachal Pradesh established the H.P. State Seed Certification Agency vide notification no. Agr. F-12-3/76-Vol-II, dated 27.12.1978. The Himachal Pradesh State Seed Certification Agency is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 ( Act, XXI of 1860). The Agency adopted Memorandum of association and rules based on the model pattern circulated by the Government of India. The Agency was entrusted the job of certification of organic farms and their produce and consequently its name was changed to H.P. State Seed and Organic Produce Certification Agency vide notification no.Agr. F(10)-16/2003, dated 19.02 2004.