Call for Establishment of Seed Park in TS Gathers Momentum

Call for Establishment of Seed Park in TS Gathers Momentum

HYDERABAD: The need for creating awareness among farmers about the need for a ‘Seed Park’ in Telangana was stressed at the three-day National Seed Congress which  began here on Tuesday.

Significantly, the congress is being held in the state at a time when the government is planning to develop the state as the seed bowl of India.

“We produce our own seeds for paddy crop by acquiring ‘foundation’ seed from the agricultural university. There is good demand for seeds in villages. But there is short supply of foundation seed. The government should take steps to supply sufficient foundation seeds and guide farmers in the production of quality seeds,” said B.Satti Reddy, a farmer from Mahbubnagar district who participated in the congress.

Farmers, seed researchers, policymakers, agricultural institutions and seed manufacturers from all parts of India are participating in the conference. “Telangana state has been playing a key role in producing and supplying quality seeds to all parts of India. There are about 400 small to big seed-processing units and companies in the state. All the companies are working with local farmers. There is a need to establish a seed park in the state with facilities for seed drying, processing, testing and packing if the state government is serious about transforming the state into seed bowl,” said M Prabhakar Rao, president of National Seed Association of India.

“In an initial bid to make Telangana the seed bowl of India, we have introduced Seed Village Scheme (SVS) under which seed companies will adopt villages and guide farmers in producing seeds. ,” agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said.

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