National seminar on seed system held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 03 2019:
Indian Society of Seed Technology (ISST), New Delhi in association with ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region Manipur Centre Lamphelpat and CAU Imphal organised a National seminar on "Strengthening of seed system in the North Eastern and unreached regions - problems, prospects and policies" at RIMS Jubilee Hall, Imphal today.
Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar Singh, Chairman TAAS, New Delhi Dr RS Paroda, Secretary, DARE and DG ICAR New Delhi Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Joint Secretary (Seeds), DAC, GOL Ashwani Kumar, Vice Chancellor CAU Imphal Professor M Premjit Singh, president ISST Dr Malvika Dadlani attended the event.
Dr RS Paroda was conferred Ch Amir Singh Memorial Award at the event.
Resource persons at the seminar emphasized on the need for a strong seed improvement programme that can make agriculture more viable, profitable and sustainable.
The seed system in North-Eastern and unreached regions is weak and inadequate to meet the demands of these States, due to several factors such as limited scope for seed production of many crops with unsuitable agro-climate, modest crop wise seed requirements of each State to meet their own statutory requirements under Seeds Act, infrastructural bottlenecks in transportation, warehousing and storage and limited choice of improved varieties with local adaptability.
Low availability of skilled human resource, limited market preference and profitability are also some factors that need to be addressed, said the resource persons.
The seminar was an attempt to bring together the seed scientists, extension personnel, policy makers and seed industry leaders of the country as well as farmers, to discuss new research breakthrough, novel seed technologies, seed policies suitable for the regions, problems and opportunities in the domestic and export markets and to share and exchange new ideas, said experts.
Speaking at the event, Deputy CM Y Joykumar underscored the importance and significance of the seminar.
Even though HYV seeds produce more yield, indigenous traditional seeds are preferred.
He said that the seminar will help disseminate information on the high yielding/value vegetable seeds.
A souvenir was also released as a part of the seminar.
The National seminar on seed was the first of its kind in the North-East region.