IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY SEED IN FOOD SECURITY & SELF-SUFFICIENCY

“Quality seed is an effective factor addressing food security & self sufficiency along with the maximum returns or profits by combining quality of seeds with the right cultivation methods”.

INTRODUCTION:

A seed is a mature ovule that comprises an embryo or a miniature undeveloped plant and food reserves, all enclosed within a protective seed coat. Seeds are a way of reproduction for all flowering plants. Every seed is capable of growing into a new plant, under proper environmental conditions such as the right temperature, moisture and sunlight. Seeds are the primary sources for a variety of foods like wheat, rice, corn, beans, peas, peanuts and so on. Essentials cooking oil are created from seeds of soybean, cotton and sunflower.

QUALITY SEED/SEED QUALITY:

Quality seed is defined as varietally pure with a high germination percentage, free from disease and disease organisms and with a proper moisture content & weight. Quality seed insures good germination, rapid emergence and vigorous growth. Seed quality is the possession of seed with required genetic and physical purity that is accompanied with physiological soundness and health status. The major seed quality characteristics are physical and genetic purity, physiological quality and seed health. Qualities seed should have:

● High genetic purity.

● High seed percentage.

● High germination percentage.

● High vigour and free from insects, pests and diseases.

● High longevity and shelf life, etc.

FOOD SECURITY AND FOOD SELF- SUFFICIENCY:

Food security has been defined in many ways. According to World Food Summit(1996), “Food security exists when all people at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”. There are 3 main types of agri- food policy solutions aimed at food security: Food Self Reliance, Food Self- Sufficiency, and Food Sovereignty (Baer-Nawrocka, 2019). Food self reliance is to produce & export goods in which the country has a comparative advantage (which provides many opportunities including the generation of financial resources, imports of other agricultural products). The other two food self sufficiency and food Sovereignty are based on exchanging the domestic production of basic agricultural products though the country has no comparative advantage in it. “The concept of food self- sufficiency is generally taken to mean the extent to which a country can satisfy its food needs from it’s own domestic production”(FAO,1998).

IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY OF SEED IN FOOD SECURITY AND FOOD SELF- SUFFICIENCY;

“ Quality of seed helps in maintaining economical stability in agriculture field by providing maximum return or output to farmers in same input that are using for local seed”. Quality seed has major role in enhancing and sustaining the agriculture production and hence, making country self sufficient in food production. It holds the great potential to increase productivity and profitability. It is estimated that good quality seed can contribute about 20% increase in production. Thus quality seed are called seeds of green revolution. Quality seed gives high quality produces, fetches high market prices. It reduces the chances of weeds, insects, pests and diseases and decrease the cost of production.

Being the vital unit in agriculture, seed is also the basic to food security. So, with the institutional & technological enhancement in seed sector quality seed can be useful as solution for food security with conditions of food sufficiency too. Quality seeds ensures good crop stand because of it’s high genetic, physiological qualities.

1. The germination percentage & vigour of the quality seeds are high leading to better yields.
2. The quality seeds have been found to increase crops, productivity by 20- 30% compared to the farmer’s local informal sources.
3. The quality seeds have better crop establishments traits, & the inputs efficiency is seen which will ultimately lead to the food security & food self- sufficiency conditions.
4. The quality seed will not only ensure food security & sufficiency, it will also be a blessing to farmers to ensure their health, economic state by the high production.
5. Not only that, the farmers will get more motivated towards the production of the food helps to maintain the food security.
6. Distribution of quality seeds to the rural part will increase the people’s participation & will be able to uplift their lifestyles & contribute to the increment in the country’s GDP.

CONCLUSION:

Quality seeds have a critical role in improving & sustaining agricultural productivity so helps to make a country food self sufficient. Uncertified local seeds are of low vigour have several physiological pathogenic defects. If such seeds are used without inspection, it will limit output, resulting food insecurity. Hence, increasing the quality seed can increases the yield potential of the crop by significant folds & thus, is one of the most economical & efficient inputs to agricultural development. Their quality seed is a critical factor ensuring food self sufficiency & food security along with the maximum profits by combining quality seeds with the tight cultivation methods.

Writer: Anita Parajuli (Student, Bsc. Ag 4th Semester, IAAS, TU)