SEED HUB

 Quality seed production is one of the most critical components for ensuring quality seed supply of pulses at the doorstep of farmers. Provision of quality seeds is an important step in enhancing the yield and production of pulses. Replacing old varieties from seed chain and farmers’ fields remains a major concern among research managers, extension workers and other stakeholders. Realizing importance of quality seed in enhancing productivity of pulses, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), Government of India (GoI), approved a special project “Creation of seed hubs for increasing indigenous production of pulses in India” worth INR 225.31 crores during 2016 involving eight ICAR Institutes, 47 centers of All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) located in State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and 95 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). The main objective of this project was to ensure supply of quality seed and maintain sustainability with profitability to the farmers locally by developing suitable infrastructure for seed quality enhancement, safe storage and seeds development.

Seed hub -pulses was created at KVK, Reddipalli in 2016 under the funding of Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur with seed processing plant & storage godown.

 Aim / Purpose of Project

a. Production of quality seed of pulses.

b. Increase productivity of pulses.

c. Establishment of seed hubs for pulses in different states with major pulse crop.

d. Establishment of seed processing plant & storage godown.

e. Production of quality seed & its availability for other stakeholders of the farming community

 Procedure at seed hub:

 The major crops that are grown under seed hub are redgram, greengram and bengalgram with a target of 1500 q.

Good practices :The seed hub project was allotted to KVK, Reddipalli, during 2016-17 and a one-time grant of INR 50 lakhs was sanctioned in the first year for creating infrastructure such as seed processing plant and storage facility. In addition to this, INR 1 crore has been allocated to the seed hub as a revolving fund to meet expenses for production, procurement and processing of seeds. At KVK Reddipalli, the seed production was implemented on farmers’ fields across different villages of Ananthapuramu and Satya sai districts.

Farmer Selection: Farmers were selected based on prior experience in pulse seed production and availability of adequate irrigation. The selected farmers were already a part of the seed production programme of AP State Seed Certification Agency (APSSCA) and had good knowledge and skills for undertaking quality seed production. Their fields were equipped with appropriate irrigation, infrastructure and assured supply of water.

Farmer Training: Farmers were trained by KVK staff in seed certification procedures viz., online registration, rouging, isolation distance, field inspection, seed processing and geo-tagging. The KVK conducts oncampus and off campus trainings to farmers.

Seed Distribution: Subsequently, breeder seeds of different varieties of red gram, green gram and bengalgram were distributed by the KVK to seed producing farmers for producing foundation seed in farmers’ fields.

Field Inspections: Inspections and field visits were organised by scientific staff of KVK, Reddipalli, certification officers (APSSCA) consultants during cropping period to create awareness of production technologies of pulses.

Buy back policy: Under the buy-back policy, farmers and KVK entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The farmers agreed to follow suggestions the KVK makes with respect to seed production including quality, purity, other management practices and sell seeds to the KVK based on the price offered by the University.

Targets and achievements under seed hub from 2016-2023

       Economics of Seedhub –Pulses construction and instalment of seed processing plant