eChapters

I. FILL UPS

1. The _____ is used in modern seed handling and storage systems for preliminary cleaning.
2. _____ removes large inert matter from the seeds.
3. _____ is a machine that do the rubbing action and debeard the seeds and polish the seed.
4. _____ is the basic cleaner in most seed processing plants.

It involves all the steps starting from the extraction till sowing that makes the seed a high quality product for distribution among the farmers for a profitable crop. It reduces the spoilage during storage, increase the shelf life of the seeds, guarantees good germination and field stand thereby reduces the risk of losing the crop at early stages.

Seed Extraction

The seed extraction methods vary with the stage at which the matured fruits are harvested for seed extraction. Some of the vegetable crops are harvested at well ripe stage while some others are harvested at mature dry stage. Proper extraction should be selected taking into consideration the easiness of seed extraction from the fleshy pulp, relatively more seed recovery and less damage to the quality of seeds. There are different methods of seed extraction includes manual method, fermentation method, chemical method and mechanical method.

Manual Method

The manual method of seed extraction varies depending on the harvested fruit type. There are two types of seed extraction in vegetable crops viz., dry extraction and wet extraction.

1. Dry extraction Method

Dry extraction method is following in vegetables where mature dry fruits or mature dried pods are harvested for seed extraction. The harvested dried fruits are kept in sun for 2-3 days. The dried fruits are split open and the seeds are extracted by beating with pliable bamboo stick or by beating against a hard surface. Heavy beating should be avoided to reduce mechanical injury to the seed. Excessive mechanical injury may result in lowering of seed viability. The extracted seeds are dried in the sun between 8.00-11.00 am and 2.00-5.00 pm to reduce the moisture content to a safe level. This is followed in crops like chilli, okra, sponge gourd, ridge gourd, french bean, lablab bean, cow pea, cluster bean etc.

1. Decorticator is used for shelling pods in

   a) Bhendi

   b) Maize

   c) Groundnut

   d) Sunflower

2. Debearders are used in processing of

   a) Barley

   b) Oats

   c) Wheat

   d) Rice

Seed processing, drying, cleaning and upgrading

Seed processing refers to all the steps necessary for preparation of harvested seed for marketing namely handling, drying, shelling, preconditioning, cleaning, size grading testing, and packaging etc.

Layout for seed processing plant

Layout plan for construction of seed processing plant should be carefully planned to ensure that thorough seed cleaning, upgrading, seed treatment and other seed processing operations are carried out efficiently without mixing and damaging seed lots with minimum equipment, personnel, time and at minimum cost.

The following factors should be considered while planning and designing the processing unit:

Introduction

Good quality seed plays an important and crucial role in deciding the performance of any crop. Availability of quality seed is one of the important factors for increasing the production and productivity of agriculture. Seed is the cheapest and most efficient input as compared to other inputs like fertilizer, pesticides, water etc. Timely availability of quality seed of the right variety/ hybrid in adequate quantity decides the strength and health of agricultural economy.

Seed has been defined in many ways. Botanically, seed is defined as “a mature fertile ovule”. Seed is also defined as “an embryo, a living organism, embedded in the supporting or food storage tissue surrounded by seed coat”. Seed is also defined as “any plant part (cuttings, corms, bulbs, rhizomes etc.) used for growing commercial crops”.

Seed a basic input in Agriculture, a carrier of new technology, a basic tool for secured food supply. Seed is a principal means to secure crop yield in less favorable production areas. Seed is an important medium for rapid rehabilitation of agriculture in cases of natural disaster.

Seed production in spices varies depending on the specific crop and its biological haracteristics. Below is an overview of the seed production methods for each of the spices you’ve mentioned:
1. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• Propagation method: Ginger is propagated through rhizomes rather than true seeds. Selected healthy rhizomes are cut into pieces, each with at least one viable bud (eye).
• Planting: The rhizome pieces are planted in well-drained soil with high organic content.
• Maintenance: Regular watering and mulching are essential to maintain soil moisture. Weeding and pest management are also crucial.
• Harvesting: The rhizomes are harvested 8-10 months after planting. Some are reserved for the next planting season.
2. Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
• Propagation method: Similar to ginger, turmeric is propagated using rhizomes.
• Planting: Rhizomes are cut into pieces with at least one bud each and planted in a prepared field.
• Maintenance: Requires consistent soil moisture, so mulching and irrigation are essential. Regular weeding and protection against pests and diseases are necessary.
• Harvesting: Rhizomes are harvested 7-9 months after planting. Selected rhizomes are stored for the next planting season.

Previous Year Questions

1. What is seed treatment?

2. Factors affecting the seed quality of a crop during seed production?

3. Seed treatment campaign – Role & importance?

4. Agronomic and genetic principles of quality seed production?

5. Varietal seed production and hybrid seed production?

Seed Treatment

Seed treatment refers to the application of fungicide, insecticide or both to the seeds to disinfect(deep seated) and disinfest (over seed coat) them from seed borne or soil borne pathogenic organisms and storage insects. It also refers to subjecting the seed to solar energy exposure or immersion in conditional water.

The productivity of onion is closely associated with the availability of genetically pure, healthy and high-germinating seed. Farmers often face shortages of certified seed, rapid loss of seed viability and inconsistent quality within informal supply systems. Onion seed production is technically demanding because the crop is biennial, highly cross-pollinated and sensitive to environmental conditions. This chapter discusses floral biology, climatic requirements, selection of true-to-type bulbs, isolation, seed-to-seed and bulb-to-seed production methods, pollination, harvesting, processing, testing and storage. It emphasizes quality enhancement, organized seed systems and participation of trained growers and private agencies in expanding reliable seed availability and improving economic returns.

Increased awareness of the importance of quality and nutrient-rich food among the majority of the population created a need for the development of organic production systems and suitable varieties/hybrids for cultivation. The quality of soil, water and air is affected by the overuse of agrochemicals in agriculture. The use of organic varieties helps in reducing the use of various agrochemicals and high-quality pesticides. Organic varieties can address environmental issues and climate change. The world organic seed market is valued at USD 4.2 Bn in 2022 and it is expected to grow at an annual rate of around 8.7% between 2022 and 2031. The demand for organic seeds in the market has created new opportunities for organic farmers. By following standard organic crop production practices and seed certification guidelines, they can produce quality organic seed or planting material on their own farm.

1. Introduction

Worldwide, organic agriculture is a rapidly growing sector. The demand for organic food markets is increasing recently with the fast-growing movement of community support for organic agriculture. A total of 96.4 m-ha were grown organically with 2% of the worldwide agricultural land. The region with the most organic agricultural land is Oceania (53.2 m-ha) followed by Europe (18.5 m-ha), Latin America (9.5 m-ha) Asia (8.8 m-ha), North America (3.6 m-ha) and Africa (2.7 m-ha). Australia stands first in area with 53.0 m-ha followed by India (4.7 m-ha) and Argentina (4.1 m-ha) (FiBL & IFOAM, 2024). The global organic farming market will grow from $169.04 billion in 2022 to $287.83 billion in 2027 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.3% (Organic Farming Global Market Report, 2023).

1. LAND REQUIREMENTS

Land should be fertile with selected irrigation and good drainage facilities. It should be free from volunteer plants. The field should not have been grown with the same crop in the previous season. If grown, it should be the production of same class of seed for the same variety.

Seed is a vital input for successful flower production and it is considered as the starting material for most bedding plants and many of the cut flowers produced. The production of bedding plants and cut flowers is both capital and labour intensive. In order to optimize production efficiency and maximize profit, it is important for growers to use high quality seeds. Production of seeds of annual flowers has immense scope as an area of diversification in floribusiness. The flower seed industry is international, operating in many countries of the world. Large quantities of flower seeds are required both by developed and developing countries for adding to the beauty of private and large gardens and also for cut flower production. Worldwide, nurseries engaged in production of seeds of seasonal flowers have a booming business. The great diversity of flower seed crops is a fascinating facet of the world seed industry and they are of high value and low volume in contrast to the high volume and low value seeds of cereal seed crops.

1. FORAGE LEGUMES

1.1. Isolation

I. FILL UPS

1. The isolation distance of fodder cowpea for certified seed production is _____.
2. The isolation distance of lucerne for foundation seed production is _____
3. The isolation distance of lucerne for certified seed production is _____.
4. The isolation distance of berseem for certified seed production is _____.

Seed is the basis of agriculture. It is the cheapest and most critical input for sustainable crop production. The response of all other inputs depends upon the quality of the seed to a large extent. The direct contribution of quality seed alone to crop production is about 15 to 20%, and it can be further raised to 45% with improved crop management practices. Quality seed ensures good germination and vigorous growth, resulting in a good crop stand. The Green Revolution witnessed in the country during the mid-sixties resulted from the seed revolution in wheat and rice. After that, there was a consistent increase and record production in food grains, oilseeds, pulses, and all other crops, including fruits and vegetables, due to the development of high-yielding varieties.

The seed itself is a technology that is inherited in a capsulated form. Therefore, the seed sector plays an essential role in disseminating the most recent technology to farmers through the quality seed of high-yielding varieties. The success of any developmental program in agriculture, like NFSM, RKVY, oilseed mission, horticulture mission, etc., depends upon the availability of good quality seed and planting material. Seed security is a prerequisite for food and nutritional security. Therefore, recognizing the facts, many emphases are being given to seed replacement and varietal replacement rates. The growth of the Indian seed industry is faster than the global rate.

I. FILL UPS

1. The fruit of coffee is called _____.
2. Coffee is a_____ pollinated crop
3. The fruit of tea is called _____.
4. Tea is a _____ pollinated crop.
5. The fruit of cardamom is called _____.

1. LAND REQUIREMENTS

2.1 Rice

Rice is the staple food for the largest number of people on the Earth. According to an estimate, the global rice production must reach 800 million tonne from the present 91.04 million tonne in 2005-06 to meet the demand in 2025. It’s area is 37% of the total area under food grains as against 20% under wheat, another important food crop. But globally it stands next to wheat in harvested area.As the irrigated rice contributes more than 75 per cent of the total rice production, enhancing its yield potential would be key to meeting the global rice requirement for an additional 215 million tonne. To achieve the target yield, rice varieties with a yield advantage of about 20 per cent over popular and widely adapted rice varieties under tropical conditions must be developed. Experience in China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Bangladesh and several other countries clearly indicates that hybrid rice technology offers readily available option to meet this challenge.

2.1 Rice

Rice is the staple food for the largest number of people on the Earth. According to an estimate, the global rice production must reach 800 million tonne from the present 91.04 million tonne in 2005-06 to meet the demand in 2025. It’s area is 37% of the total area under food grains as against 20% under wheat, another important food crop. But globally it stands next to wheat in harvested area. As the irrigated rice contributes more than 75 per cent of the total rice production, enhancing its yield potential would be key to meeting the global rice requirement for an additional 215 million tonne. To achieve the target yield, rice varieties with a yield advantage of about 20 per cent over popular and widely adapted rice varieties under tropical conditions must be developed. Experience in China, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Bangladesh and several other countries clearly indicates that hybrid rice technology offers readily available option to meet this challenge.