Seed
is an essential input for crop production. Farmers’ access to quality seed of
superior varieties is key in increasing agricultural productivity and
production. For any successful quality seed programme, it is mandatory to
produce sufficient quantity of seed with appropriate research backup on various
aspects of seed technology viz., production research, maintenance, quality
assurance, processing, storage, quality enhancement etc. In a bid to shoulder
the responsibility, ICAR established Directorate of Seed Research during
December 2004 by upgrading AICRP-NSP (Crops) which was launched during 1979-80.
Directorate of Seed Research, through its flagship projects viz., AICRP – NSP
(Crops) and ICAR Seed Project, presently combined as AICRP on Seed (Crops), under
the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Assam Agricultural
University is also a part of the programme since inception, and contributing
towards catering the need of breeder seed of the entire North Eastern States.
Seed Technology Research (STR) Component was introduced in the year 2000 in
Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat and has made significant achievements by
developing appropriate technologies relevant to seed through basic, applied,
strategic and anticipatory research leading to seed security which is a
prerequisite for assuring food security. Apart from technology development; capacity
building with focus on skill intensification, technology dissemination, model
deployment (farmers participatory approach and seed village programme),
employment generation, commercial orientation addressing gender outlook i.e.
women entrepreneurship, expansion of seed activity in untapped areas are
significant contributions of the project.
Mission of AICRP on Seed (Crops):
·
To ameliorate Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) and Varietal
Replacement Rate (VRR) through production of adequate quantity of breeder seed
and to develop regional specific seed technologies for improved yield and productivity.
Mandates of AICRP on Seed (Crops):
·
To produce breeder seed as per national requirement and augment
quality seed production among agricultural crops in the country.
·
To conduct, coordinate and monitor research on different aspects
of seed science and technology.
·
Qualitative and quantitative enhancement in seed production
capabilities of institutions under NARES
·
Capacity building among various stake holders on seed
production, processing, storage & packaging, quality control and seed
health.
·
To establish linkages with Crop Improvement Projects, Seed
Industry, Seed Regulatory Agencies, NGOs, KVKs etc.
IX.
A
series of awareness camps on preserving traditional rice varieties was
conducted for utilization of these varieties for livelihood improvement was
organized.
a.
Preserving
future genetic resources through capacity building of women farmer and
utilization for livelihood improvement (2012-2016)
b.
Morphogenetic Barcoding of Aromatic and Glutinous
Rice varieties of Assam (2015-2018)
c.
Genome and Transcriptome sequencing of
Aromatic Rice from NE region (2016-2020)
d.
Differential expression of gene for grain
aroma at post harvest stages and identification of ideal condition for aroma
retention for Assam aromatic rice
XIV.
Details
of technology developed and their adoption
Sl. | Technology Developed | Technology demonstrated& | Adopting agency/ stake holders |
1. | Seed enhancement using bio agents for organic rice | Physiological | All India |
XV.
The technology entitled
“Seed solarization technique for management of pulse bruchid” has been
identified and recommended for release during 37th annual group
meeting of AICRP on Seed (Crops) 2022.
XVI.
The technology entitled “Pre-harvest
spraying of insecticides for pulse bruchid management” been identified and
recommended for release during 37th annual group meeting of AICRP on
Seed (Crops) 2022.
