Seed Certification :: Quality Control

SEED QUALITY CONTROL

As per the section 6 (a) of the seeds Act 1966 the minimum limits of germination and purity standards have been notified for different kinds and according to section 6 (b) of the act a mark or label should be attached with the seed container with required particulars.

Under section 7 of the said act the sale of seeds of notified kinds and varieties are regulated. Every person selling seeds should sell seeds

  • Which are identifiable to its kind and variety.
  • Should posses the minimum required seed standards for germination, physical purity and genetic purity.
  • Should affix a mark or label with correct particular to the seed container.
  • Should carryout such other instruction given by the State Government as prescribed under rules.
  • Also under Rule -13 there are some requirements for every dealer to comply with

    1. No. person shall keep for sale any seed after the date of its validity
    2. The mark of label should not be tampered
    3. Every person selling seeds should keep complete lot wise records of seeds for atleast for a period of three year which also include a seed sample from each lot which may be kept for one year.

    Notified seed inspectors inspect the seed selling points to verify the quality of the seeds. They also draw seed samples when they suspect the quality of the seeds being sold. Seeds are then, sent to Seed Testing Laboratories for analysis. Legal actions are initiated against the defaulters based on the analytical results. Seed selling licenses are issued under Seed Control Order 1983. Seed Inspectors also take appropriate action as and when complaints are received from farmers.


    Role of farmers in maintaining the quality of seeds

    Farmers should purchase the seeds only in the licensed seed selling points. Verify the details furnished in the producers label attached to the seed bag.
    The label should possess the following details
    SL.No.
    Crop
    Variety
    Lot No.
    Date of Test (Date/Month/Year)
    Validity period (Date/Month/Year)
    Germination %( Minimum)
    Physical purity (Minimum)
    Genetic purity (Minimum)
    Net weight
    Chemical used for seed treatment
    Name and address of the producer

    (Caution in red ink should be furnished for Name of the chemical, and “Do not use for Food, Fodder, or Oil purpose)

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    Certified seed Tag

    When the farmers suspect the quality, they should report the matter to the concerned seed Inspector. Further they should keep with them the tag, label and the container of the seed bag. If the seeds do not germinate properly, the fact should be reported to the seed inspector concerned.

    Whenever the farmers purchase seeds they should verify the variety and its performance. They should avoid purchasing un notified varieties.

    The farmers should obtain receipt for the purchase of seeds without fail. In the receipt, details on variety, Lot number and validity period should be verified at the time of purchase.


    Seed testing

    Seed testing is the science of evaluating the planting value of the seeds. The primary aim of the seed testing is to obtain accruable and reproducible results regarding the quality status of the seed samples submitted to the Seed Testing Laboratories.

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    1. Service samples for the farmers, producers and sellers on payment of cost @ Rs. 30/- per sample to know the seed standard of their seeds. This type of samples is drawn and send to the seed testing lab by the Farmers, Producers and the sellers to know their seed standards.

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    The samples received from the three categories are analysed and results are communicated to the concerned within 30 days from the date of receipt of the samples.

    Anybody including farmers can test their samples for it standard before the seeds are being certified, sold or sown.

    2. Certified samples for certification purposes on payment of Rs. 20/- per sample by the producers as testing charges collected at the time of registration.

    This type of samples is drawn by the certification officers and send them to the seed testing lab through the Assistant Director of Seed Certification with a secret code No. On receipt of the results the code will be decoded by the ADSC and then the results are sent to the producer for further certification procedure to be completed.

    2. Official samples for the quality control purpose at government cost. This type of samples are drawn by the seed inspectors for the quality control as per the seed control order and Seed act to assure the availability of quality seeds to the farming community.

    The seed samples received in the Seed Testing Laboratories are analysed and results are communicated to the concerned.
    The following tests are conducted

    • Germination
    • Physical purity
    • O.D.V.( Other Distinguishable Variety)
    • Moisture

    The Seed Testing Laboratory is the hub of seed quality control. Seed testing services are required from time to time to gain information regarding planting value of seed lots. Seed testing is possible for all those who produce, sell and use seeds.


     Minimum seed standards

    Sl.No
    Crop Submitted sample
    (in gm)
    Working sample Phy. purity %
    Germi-nation %
    Moisture %
    O.D.V.
    CS SS FS C
    I Cereals &Millets                
    1. Paddy 400 50 40 98 80 13 0.05 0.2
    2. Cumbu- Hy & var 150 25 15 98 75 12 0 0
    3. Ragi 60 25 6 97 75 12 0 0
    4. Sorghum- Hy & var 900 100 90 98 75 12 10/kg 20/kg
    5. Maize - inbreds 1000 500 900 98 80 12 0 5/kg
      Maize - others 1000 500 900 98 90 12 5/kg 10/kg
    6. Barley 1000   120 98 85 12 10 20
    7. Oats 1000   120 98 85 12 10 20
    8. Wheat 1000   120 98 85 12 0 0
      Pulses                
    9. Redgram-Hy &var 1000 150 300 98 75 9 10 20
    10. Black gram 1000 100 150 98 75 9 10 20
    11. Green gram 1000 100 120 98 75 9 10 20
    12. Cowpea 1000 150 400 98 75 9 5 10
    13. Bengal gram 1000 400 1000 98 85 9 5 10
    14. Horse gram 500 100 500 98 80 9 5 10
    15. Peas 1000 250 900 98 75 9 5 10
    16. French bean 1000 450 700 98 75 9 5 10
    17. Field bean 1000 450 600 98 75 9 0 0
      Oil seeds                
    18. Ground nut 1000 500 1000 96 70 9 0 0
    19. Sunflower-V/Hy 1000/250 100 250/125 98 70 9 0 0
    20. Gingelly 70 25 7 97 80 9 10 20
    21. Castor 1000 250 1000 98 70 8 5 10
    22. Soybean 1000 150 500 98 70 12 10 20
      Fibre crops                
    23. Cotton (Hy) 350-L
    250-DL
    200
    100
    35
    25
    98 65 10 0 0
      cotton (var) 1000-L
    350-DL
    350
    150
    350
    35
    98 65 10 0 0
      Vegetable crops                
    24. Ash gourd 700 100 70 98 60 7 0 0
    25. Bittergourd V/Hy 1000 250 450 98 60 7 5 10
    26. Bottle gourd 700 100 70 98 60 7 0 0
    27. Ridgegourd Hy/var 1000 150 400 98 60 7 5 10
    28. Snakegourd 1000 250 250 98 60 7 0 0
    29. Watermelon V/Hy 1000 100 250 98 60 7 5 10
    30. Cucumber V/hy 150 100 70 98 60 7 0 0
    31. Pumpkin V/Hy 350 100 180 98 60 7 0 0
      Fruit vegetables                
    32. Brinjal V/Hy 150 10 15 98 70 8 0 0
    33. Chillies 150 10 15 98 60 8 0 0
    34. Bhendi 1000 100 140 99 65 10 10 20
    35. Tomato V/Hy 7(hy),70 10 7 98 70 8 0 0
    36. Greens 70 50 7 95 70 8 10 20
      Cole crops                
    37. Cabbage 100 10 10 98 70 7 0 0
    38. Caulliflower 100 10 10 98 65 7 0 0
    39. Knol kohl 100 10 10 98 70 7 0 0
      Bulb crops                
    40. Onion V/Hy 80 10 80 98 70 8 0 0
      Root crops                
    41. Carrot V/Hy 30 10 3 95 60 8 5 10
    42. Beet root 500 50 50 96 60 9 0 0
    43. Radish V/Hy 300 50 30 98 70 6 0 0
    44. Turnip V/Hy 70 10 7 98 70 6 0 0
    45. Cluster bean 1000 100 100 98 70 9 10 20
      Forage crops                
    46. Sunhemp 700 50 70 98 80   0 0
    47. Daincha 900 25 90 98 70   0 0
    48. Lucerene 50 25 5 98 80 10 0 0
    49. Cenchrus 25   3 80 30 10 0 0
    50. Stylosnathus 70   7 90 40 10 10 20
    51. Kolinji     90   70   0 0
      Miscellaneous                
    52. Palak 250 25 25 96 60 9 0 0
    53. Spinach 250 25 25 98 70   0 0
    54. Papaya 400   40 98 60 12 0 0
    55. Moringa 1000   750 96 70 8 0 0
    56. Coriander 400   40 95 65   0 0

    ODV: Other Distinguishing Variety
    CS-Certified Sample; SS-Service Sample; FS – Foundation Seed
    HY-Hybrid; Var-Variety

    Updated On: Feb, 2016
     
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