SEED CERTIFICATION

Seed certification is a system which is designed to secure maintain and multiply the seeds of superior varieties or hybrids, so grown and distributed as to ensure the genetic identity and purity. In addition, seed certification also ensures that the seeds conform to the prescribed standards for various seed quality attributes It should be borne in mind that neither the field inspection nor the seed testing, is certification. These are the components of the certification Similarly, seed quality control is not the seed certification. Seed certification is itself a component of the seed quality control. In rectification programme, seed is produced by farmers through using careful quality control mechanisms like field inspection during growing season and seed inspection following harvest by legally authorized agency. High quality seed should equal or exceed the bench mark of standards set for genetic and physical purity, germination, vigour and should be free from seed borne disease and insect pest damage.

Fundamental concept of seed certification

Following are the basic concept which must be fulfilled before seed certification. Which are

1. The pedigree of all certified seed crops must be based on lineage.

2.The integrity of certified seed growers must be recognized.

3.Field inspection must be made by qualified inspector.

4.Verification trials to established identification and the usefulness of the varieties and strains certified must be conducted.

5.It must be recognized that there is necessary of keeping proper records to establish and maintain satisfactory pedigree of the seed stock.

6.There should be standards for purity and germination established.

7.The principles of sealing seeds to protect both grower and purchaser must be approved.

8.Species of farm weeds which would be included within the meaning of noxious weed must be defined.

9.There must be standardization of nomenclature used, describing the class of pedigreed seed.

High quality seed can be produced by controlling the production protocol in two ways.

● By monitoring seed multiplication and processing operations to avoid or minimize the risk of mechanical or genetical contamination for maximizing biological efficiency of seed crop.

● By fixing minimum field and seed standards of different crop species to facilitate certification and assuring dependability of the product to the users.

Objective of certification

To ensure genuineness and quality of seed to the users or purchasers to increase the production and productivity of any crop is the main objective of seed certification.

Organization of certification

Seed certification is done by seed certification agency i.e. Seed Quality Control Centre under Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Nepal.

Phases/sequence of seed certification

Seed certification is usually accomplished in following six phases.

1. Receipt and scrutiny of application

The producer is required to submit an application for certification on the form prescribed by the certification agency along with relevant evidence about the source of seed, certification tags, sales and purchase records exc. The certification agency may fix a nominal fee as the cost of application. Each application must be scrutinize by the official of the certification agency for the crop, variety locality and the area intended to be covered for the production of the certified seed. There is no minimum or maximum limit for the area offered by the produce for certification, provided that the certified seed production meets all the prescribed requirements.

2. Verification of source

The seed producer intended to produce seed under seed certification must provide relevant evidences, pertaining to the source of seed which will be used for raising the crop. This is the pre-requisite for seed certification. The evidences may include the certification tags, seals, labels, seed container, purchase record and cash receipt, etc. Such evidence is necessary to conform that the seed used for producing seed. Crop has been obtained from the source approved by the seed certification agency or not. Evidence of the source if not supplied with application, can be provided at the time of first field inspection.

3. Field inspections

Field inspection is required to verify the genetic purity and other factors which can cause irreversible damage to the genetic purity or seed health This includes checking for isolation requirements planting, seed borne-diseases, objectionable weeds and other contaminants. Field inspection work requires trained staff who have the knowledge of the variety and the procedures for inspecting the crop. Usually 2-3 inspections are required. The purpose of field inspections is to examine the seed crop in the field and to determine its suitability for certification Seed certification inspectors do field inspections. The inspections should be performed at various stages of crop development such as vegetative stage, flowering stage, maturity stage, etc. Foundation seed crops are also subjected to the same number of field inspections as those for certified seed; however, the requirements are more strict. During field inspections, objectionable weed plants and plant infected by designated (seed borne) diseases are specifically monitored. After completing the inspection, the inspector must submit a copy of the report to the producer or his representative.

For the purpose of field inspection the entire are planted under the production of certified seed by an individual produce may constitute as one unit provided that:

1. It is all under one variety.

2. It does not exceed 10 ha.

3. It is not divided by field separated by more than fifty meters between them.

4. It is planted with the seed belonging to the same class and stage in generation chain and it is meant for the production of seed of same class.

5. The crop over the entire area is more of less of the same stage of the growth so that the observations made are the representative of the entire crops.

6. The total area planted corresponds to the quantity of the seed reported to have been used.

7. Raised strictly as a single crop and never as mixed one.

8. Not so heavily and uniformly lodged that more than one third of the plant population is trailing on the ground leaving no scope for inspection.

9. Not grown as inter, companion or ratoon crop and

10. Fields are so maintained as to show adequate evidence of good crop husbandry.

The above guidelines are not absolute and may be modified by the certification agency according to situation.
The seed certification scheme may have the provision of the re-inspection on the request of the producer. For this purpose the agency may charge a separate fee.

4. Supervision of post harvest operations

Seed crop, meeting the field standards for certification should be harvested after the seed reaches physiological maturity stage and threshed on the clean threshing floor and as far as possible beating the ear heads with sticks should be avoided to minimize cracking of seed. It will be safer to use thresher/seed extractors. In hybrid seed production fields, male parent (pollinator) should be harvested first and removed from the field to avoid mixing with seed parent. Seed producer must take all the precautions to avoid the seed from admixtures and other causes of seed deterioration.

Similarly, while transporting the seed to the processing plant. adequate care must be exercised to avoid contamination. In a seed certification scheme, bulking of the unprocessed seed stocks may be permissible to obtain larger homogenous seed stocks. However, for bulking the seed stocks must meet the following requirements:
Belong to the same certified seed producer.

• Belong to the same crop, variety, class or seed and stage in the generation chain.
• Were produced in the same season under the similar agro-climatic conditions.
• Were subjected for certification by the same certification agency.
• Have similar physical composition, lusture and levels of moisture.
• Are adequately homogenous in composition.

The processing of seed lots must be supervised by the official of the certification agency to avoid mixing of the seed lots of contamination during processing and packing. The processing plant should have adequate space for storing the seeds. The phyto-sanitory conditions of the plant and storage go downs should be of the highest possible order to avoid deterioration of the seed by pests; pathogens and rodents. Inspection during seed processing is done to determine whether the seeds have been dried to appropriate moisture level, and whether the correct processing procedure is being followed or not. Another purpose of such inspections is to determine whether appropriate cafe is taken to avoid mechanical mixtures during seed processing. This is not common practice in Nepal.

5.Seed sampling and analysis

After the processing of the seed lot, a representative composite seed sample should be drawn by the official of the certification agency. The sampling should be done in accordance with the prescribed procedure. The composite samples should be divided into 3 samples of the size equivalent to the weight of submitted sample. Each sample should be packed separately in cloth bag. For moisture testing, a separate sample should be packed in moisture-proof container and be placed in the cloth bag containing the sample. One sample may be delivered to the seed producer and other should immediately be sent to the seed testing laboratories. The certification agency must retain one portion sample.

The seed should be analysed in the seed testing laboratory promptly in accordance with the prescribed procedure and the analysis report should be delivered to the certification agency urgently, But not later than 30 days from the date of receipt of the samples unless the seed is subjected to such tests which require more time than the normal test. Laboratory testing. consists of series of seed tests designed to determine the quality seed. Before certification, seed lots are subject to test to determine the quality of seeds.

a. Purity test

b. Germination or seed viability test

c. Moisture content test

Seed tests are conducted on small sample sizes (about 25 gm) so it is essential that the samples used for seed tests are representative of the lot and the samples should be drawn randomly from the seed lots.

6. Grant of certificate and certification tags

The seed certification agency may issue certification tags after receiving the favourable report from the seed testing. However, if the analysis report reveals that the seed lot is not conforming the prescribed seed standard, either for purity, germination, moisture; certification tags should not be issued. The initial validity period is normally nine months from the date of first test. This could be extended for six months provided seed provided seed conforms to the prescribed seed-standards in respect of physical purity, germination, moisture content and insect damage. The seed lot will be eligible for subsequent extension of validity period as long as it conforms to the prescribed standards.

Writer: Srijana Bhattarai (Student, Bsc 4th semester, IAAS, Paklihawa)