The document provides a comprehensive history and overview of seed science and technology, detailing the evolution of seed policies, quality control measures, and the structures of the seed industry in India since the late 19th century. It discusses key milestones in seed certification, the role of various organizations, challenges facing the industry, and suggestions for improvement to enhance seed production and quality. Overall, it emphasizes the significance of a robust seed policy and quality control system for supporting both national agricultural needs and global trade.

1. ICAR AIEEA JRF & SRF for PG admissions
ICAR NET, ARS & STO (T-6)
IBPS – AFO
PLANT SCIENCE: SEED SCIENCE &TECHNOLOGY
TITBITS 12: SEED POLICY
Prepared by
Dr. K. Vanangamudi
Formerly Dean (Agriculture), TNAU, Coimbatore.
Dean, Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College,
Professor & Head,
Seed Science & Technology, TNAU, Coimbatore.

2. Seed Science & Technology
 Seed growth and development
 Seed physiology
 Seed dormancy
 Seed Germination
 Quality seed production
 Techniques on seed enhancement
 Seed certification, processing
 Seed treatment
 Seed storage
 Seed longevity
 Seed testing
 Seed pathology and entomology
 Seed quality control
 Seed Marketing and distribution.
1. Seed policies formulated for governing seed quality control system
Year
1869 First seed testing station was established in Tharandt, Saxony, Germany.
1871 First Seed testing laboratory in Copenhagen, Denmark.
1905 IARI
1908 AOSA: Association of Official Seed Analyst, USA was formed.
1919 ICIA: International Crop Improvement Association, USA was formed.
1921 ESTA: European Seed Testing Association (Denmark)
1922 SCST: Society of Commercial Seed Technologist
1922 CSAAC: Commercial Seed Analyst Association of Canada.
1924 ISTA: International Seed Testing Association (Zurich, Switzerland)
 Journal: Seed Science and Technology was first launched in 1973 as
a replacement of the Proceedings of the International Seed Testing
Association, which was first issued in 1921.
 Published every April, August and December.
 India became member of ISTA in 1962.

3. 1928 Royal Commission on Agriculture submitted report citing that facilities for
increasing the supply of breeder seeds were inadequate and that varietal purity
of seeds was not maintained.
1929 ICAR: New Delhi
1952 Grow more seed enquiry committee (in First 5 year plan, 1951-56)
1956 Seed health testing was established in IARI
1960 Seed Testing Laboratory at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New
Delhi, has been notified as the Central Seed Testing Laboratory.
1961 Seed multiplication team review and World seed year
, First STL (CSTL) - In India, first seed testing station.
1963 National Seeds Corporation established
1966 Seed Act passed (came into force in Oct, 1969).
1968 Seed Review Team report was submitted; Seed Rules framed
1969 AOSCA: Association of Official Seed Certifying Agency, USA
1969 SFCI (State Farm Corporation of India) framed
1969 Tarai Development Corporation established with World Bank Assistance;
concept of Compact Area Approach for seed production
1970 STL was started in Tamil Nadu
1971 MSCS (Minimum Seed Certification Standard)
1971 National Commission on Agriculture submitted; Indian Society of Seed
Technologist (ISST) framed
1972 Department of Seed Technology was started in Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University.
ICRISAT: International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics,
Hyderabad.
1972 ISST organized first All India Seed Seminar, Seed Certification Agencies and
Central Seed Certificate Board formed.
1973 First seed technology course in India at TNAU
1974 National Seed Programme
1975 Project report on National Seed Project was submitted
1976 National Seed Project I

4. 1981 1st workshop on Seed Technology under National Seed Project was held.
1981 National Seed Project II
1983 Seed Control Order (Under Essential Commodities Act, 1956)
1986 Seed Certification was started in India, Breeder Seed Supply Policy
1987 An expert group on seed was constituted and, the report was submitted in
June, 1989
1988 A New seed policy to encourage import of seed and planting material was
announced in September (New Policy on Seed Development, 1988)
1989 Plants, Fruits and Seeds Order (Regulation of Import into India order)
1990 National Seed Project III
1993 Plant Variety Act
1994 GOI signed: GATT approval, ISTA rules were revised
1999 Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Right.
2001 Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Right Act
2002 National Seed Policy
2003 PPV&FRA implemented in India, Plant Quarantine (Regulation of import into
India) Order
2004 New Seed Bill, Directorate of Seed Research’ (DSR), Mau, Uttar Pradesh.
2005 National Seed Research and Training Centre (NSRTC) , Varanasi
2016 Directorate of Seed Research to ‘Indian Institute of Seed Science’ (IISS)

5. 2. Structure of seed industry as per seed act (1966)
3. Organizations involved in implementation of seed policy
3.1. National Seeds Corporation (NSC – 1963)
 Produces and distributes breeder seed, foundation seed and certified seeds.
 Has regional office at state level to perform its function.
 Also takes up processing, storage, training programmes, publicity of varieties,
distribution of vegetable seeds etc.
 Plays an important role in formation of Seed Act and Rules.
3.2. State Farm Corporation of India (SFCI)
 Has taken up production and distribution of breeder and foundation seeds at
national level through the mechanized farm.
 Also imparts training.
State level
State Seed Corporation
 Formed by respective states and producing foundation and certified seeds.

6. Department of Agriculture
 Part of seed requirement is met out by department of Agriculture through seed
production in state seed farms and seed farms organized in the farmers holding.
4. Private sector
 A large number of small private and multinational seed companies have developed
after the implementation of New Seed Policy 1988.
Multinational seed companies in India
Rank Company name Country
1 USA
2 USA
3 Switzerland
4 France
5 KWS AG Germany
6 Land O’ Lakes USA
7 Japan
8 Germany
9 Japan
10 Denmark
5. Co-operative sector
 Produces seeds either through contract farmers or share holders.

7. 6. Seed quality control system
 Quality seed production was stressed in Indian seed industry based on Seed Act,
1966 formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.
 To implement Seed Act, Seed Rules was enacted in 1969.
 Following Government Agencies/organizations are involved in seed quality control
system.
 Seed certification agency
 Seed law enforcement wing
 Seed testing laboratory
 State variety release and notification committee
7. Seed production and research
7.1. ICAR - National Seed Project
 Based on the recommendations of Seed Review Committee in 1968 and National
Agricultural Commission in 1991 and 1996 to strengthen the Seed Industry in India,
GOI launched National Seed Programme in late 1974.
 National Seed Programme as National Seed Project was implemented in 1975-76 with
the assistance of World Bank.
 The NSP has functioned in our country in 3 phases.
 Phase I (1976-81)
 Phase II (1981-1986)
 Phase III (1987 to till date).
 From 2003, it is functioning as NSP (Crops) and is continuously progressing in
dealing with seed production and research related to development of seed industry.
Main functions of NSP
 Strengthening of breeder foundation and certified seed production by NSC, State Farm
Corporations, State Seed Corporations and private agencies.
 Recognizing NSC as a coordinating body for planning and advisory committee for
seed production, processing and marketing.
 Strengthening seed production.
 Strengthening infrastructure facilities for seed testing, seed certification and
research on seed technology in selected institutions and universities.

8. 8. Current challenges
 Farmer’s saved seed
 Research on poor farmers needs
 Farmers can commercialize the informal seed sale
 Inadequate service and supply system
 Technology (low productivity and low level of adoption)
 High post harvest losses
 Attempts to establish very broad patents
 Collection of royalties by public institution
 Exclusive rights to private companies
 Concentration of power to private
 Regulation of transgenic crops
 Only environmentally viable transgenics will be recommended for release
 Examination for toxicity and other safety related aspects
 India endowed with irrigated land has a critical mass and level of growth that it could
use not only to cater to the growing country’s requirement, but also to make a
concerted effort for global trade under provisions of WTO.
 To place the seed industry for serving both national and international markets, the
following suggestions are made.
9. Suggestions
 Generation system of seed multiplication (Nucleus – Breeder – Foundation I -
Foundation II – Certified) should be strictly followed.
 Seed village scheme need to be promoted
 Contract seed production at the farmer’s field could be encouraged
 Providing incentives and adequate infrastructure facilities like power, irrigation, credit
etc., for private seed producers.
 Identification of potential seed production areas, declaring as seed valley and
encouraging Public Private Partnership (PPP) in that region.
 Scientific seed processing and storage should be strengthened.
 Seed bank may be established to meet the demand during natural calamities
 Enforcing quality control taking into consideration of transgenic seeds.

9.  Providing advisory services on Intellectual Property matters and legal services to needy
companies, seed producers and growers.
 Intensive training to stakeholders in quality seed production
 Increasing awareness and adoption of hybrid seeds by the farmers.
10. An Overview
 New seed policy 1988 has made impressive progress in seed sector.
 PPV&FRA 2001 implemented in 2003.
 Indian Seed Organization
 ICAR - NSP started in 1974, renamed as NSP (Crops) in 2003
i) Phase I : 1976 - 1981
ii) Phase II : 1981 - 1986
iii) Phase III : 1987 - till date