Research Stations for Breeder Seed Production

Registered Grading/ Sealing Centres

Standard Packing Sizes of different Seeds as per approval of Board meeting

Lot Size

Labelling / Stenceling

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Seed certification is a voluntary process. Seed grower who intend to produce seed has to follow the following brief guidelines from the start of seed production till the sealing, tagging and labeling of the containers in use viz. Gunny bags/clothes bags/ ploy pack etc.

1. General Standards: -

1.1 Source of seed: Source of purchase of seed should be known so as to verify the pedigree of seed parents their genetic, physical and physiological purity.

1.2 Notified Kind a variety: Seed/ propagating material should be of notified kind and variety released by the central seed committee, as published in the Gazette of India.

1.3 Label & Tags of crop variety: The labels tags of particular crop variety must be kept securely so as to maintain the record of the seed viz crop, variety, stage, date of packing, validity period, name of producer; name of Certifying Agency, germination percentage etc. required to be produced before the certification staff on demand.

1.4 Application Form: The application form is required to be filled up by the seed grower and the verification of the seed source, kind and variety, tags, validity period are verified by the seed certification officer. Agriculture Extension Officer/ Field Assistants and got approved from the Chief Seed Certification Officer. The registration and inspections charges have to be paid by the grower to the seed certification staff under proper receipt.

2. Specific standards

(a) Field Standards.
(b) Seed Standards.

2.1 Field Standards: A number of inspections ranging from one to four is required to be performed depending upon the stage of the crop of cereals, oilseeds, pulses, forages, vegetable seed, potato, ginger, turmeric etc. preferably at the vegetatively growing stage, flowering stage, harvesting stage, processing, storage stages & bagging. Field inspections process for the breeder seed, hybrid seed, foundation and certified seed is conducted to see the fulfillment of the minimum criteria laid down by the Central Seed Certification Board, with respect to different crops to meet out the minimum prescribed seed certification standards, with respect to the following parameters.

1. Minimum number of inspection - (No. of visits)
2. Isolation distance (minimum in meters)
3. Off type plants/ear heads (Max. %age)
4. Inseparable other crops plants (Max. %age)
5. Objectionable weed plants (Max. %age)
6. Plants affected by the seed bone diseases (Max. %age)

The seed growers are instructed to fulfill the above standards . The crop inspected during its processing & storage stage is required to meet the standards. Then estimation of yield is given in the inspection report and copy of inspection report is handed over to him.

2.2 Seed Standards: Field standards are supplemented by laboratory seed standards in the notified seed testing labs. For physical purity, germination and moisture specifications and other parameters as under

1. Pure seed (Minimum %age)
2. Inert matter (maximum %age)
3. Other crops seeds (maximum number per kg)
4. Total weed seeds (maximum number per kg)
5. Objectionable weed seeds (maximum number per kg)
6. Germination (minimum %age)
7. Moisture
(a) Ordinary container (maximum %age)
(b) Vapor proof container (maximum %age)
8. Other distinguishable varieties (maximum number per kg.)

After meeting the prescribed field certification standards, the seed produce is processed in the registered grading plant (Registered by the agency) for grading.

Then sealing, processing, packing and supervision, bagging and tagging of seed done and staked in lots (prescribed different for crops) in stores. Soon after completion of processing or seed treatment, composite sample is drawn and divided into 3 equal parts, one with producer, 2nd will be sent to seed testing lab and the 3rd will be retained as guard sample or the samples so drawn are submitted to the notified seed testing laboratory for analysis of the physical purity, germination percentages, incidence of insect pest and disease and moisture percentage, to fulfill the minimum prescribed Indian Seed Certification Standards. The seed fulfilling the prescribed standards are finally labelled, sealed, tagged for different stages of foundation and certified seed. The tags / labels indicate the foundation / certified seeds. The colour of the tags for foundation seed is white and that of certified seed is blue.

The seed lots are to be staked in such a fashion so as to enable one to draw sample from the bags representing the whole seed lot. Incase composite sample drawn the small sample are composited and divided into 3 parts as above. The minimum submitted sample (gms) vary different for crops as prescribed by the central seed certification Board in the Indian minimum seed certification standards.

If a seed sampleor a seed lot is not found meeting the prescribed standards for the class for which it has been registered but conform to the prescribed standards to immediate lower class, certification of seed to lower class can be done provided a request from the seed grower to this effect is received.

2.1 Validity period of certificate: The validity shall be nine month from the date of test at the time of initial certification. The validity period could further be extended to six months provided retesting of seed conforms to the prescribed standards.

2.2 Revocation of Certificate: - If the certification Agency is satisfied that either on reference made to it is this behalf on otherwise that:

(a) Certificate granted by it under section 9 (3) of the Act has been obtained by miss representation of as to an essential fact of
(b) The holder of certificate has without reasonable cause failed to comply with the conditions subject to which the certificate has been granted or has contravened any of the provision of the Act or the Rules made thereunder, then without prejudice to any other penalty to which the holder of the certificate may be liable under the Act, the Certification Agency may after giving the holder of the certificate an opportunity of showing cause revoke the certificate under section 10 of the Act.

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