Seed Production of Vegetable, Tuber and Spice Crops (2+1)

Role of seed

Feistritzer (1975) described the role of seed as follows,
A carrier of new technologies

• Introduction and popularization of any technology to enhance the crop productivity solely depend on seed. It may be the development of new varieties, evaluation of seed treating chemical, fertilizer, pesticide including the biotechnological developments.
A basic tool for secured food supply

• In India for instance, the cultivation of high yielding varieties have helped to increase food production from 52 million tonnes to more than 200 million tonnes over a period of 50 years The successful implementation of the High Yielding Varieties Programme (HYVP) in India has led to a remarkable increase in production and to a new assessment of future development potential. As a result, food imports from other countries have been substantially brought down inspite of the rapid population increase.
The principal means to secure crop yields in less favourable production areas

• In areas inherent with biotic and abiotic stresses, the supply of good quality seeds of improved varieties contributes to secure higher crop yields.
A medium for rapid rehabilitation of agriculture in cases of natural disaster

• At times, floods and droughts focused on threats of famine and starvation. In such situations Seed Reserve Stocks contribute a lot to reclaim the ill effects of natural calamities.