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The Government has advised the farmers to procure quality seeds on genuine prices from the seed depot/seed sale counters only. Seed sale counters will be in operation by State Department of Agriculture, authorized seed dealers of State Seeds Corporation, National Seeds Corporation, SFCI and private seed companies or of State Agricultural Universities.
Tips about identifying genuine inputs:
· Farmer can identify the genuine inputs based on the Label /Tag affixed on the container of the seed.
· If the seed container contains only opaline green label it is called labelled seed and it should be serially numbered and signed by the producer.
· If the seed container contain White tag with opaline green label it is called foundation seed and it should be serially numbered and signed by the Seed Certification Officer.
· If the seed container contains Azure Blue tag with opaline green label it is called certified seed and it should be serially numbered and signed by the Seed Certification Officer.
· Seeds are certified based on the Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards.
· Label should contain the following particulars:-
a correct statement of the net content in terms of weight and expressed in metric system; date of testing; if the seed in container has been treated:-
1. A statement indicating that the seed has been treated;
2. The commonly accepted chemical or abbreviated chemical (generic) name of the applied substance; and
3. If the substance of the chemical used for treatment, and present with the seed is harmful to human beings or other vertebrate animals, a caution statement such as “Do not use for food, feed or oil purposes”. The caution for mercurials and similarly toxic substance shall the word “Poison” which shall be in type size, prominently displayed on the label in red:
· the name and address of the person who offers for sale, sells or otherwise supplied the seed and who is responsible for its quality;
· the name of the seed as notified under section 5 of the Act.
· Farmer can see on the label about the minimum percentage of seed germination, physical purity of the seed, genetic purity of the seed, moisture content of the seed, date of test, within the validity period on the date of purchase/use and adoptability of the seed which may help the farmer to choose his variety.
· Certified seeds are tested in the notified seed-testing laboratory before tagging the seed. Farmers can also get their seed sample tested in the notified Seed Testing Laboratories by paying prescribed free so as to know the standard of the seed.
Tips about certain inputs having special qualities:.
· azure blue colour tag attached to the seed container indicates that the seeds is certified by the State Seed Certifying Agency.
· farmers can identify the germination percentage and its physical and genetic purity mentioned on the blue colour tag/opel green label indicate the actual (special) qualities of seeds.
· farmers can also see from the tag/label attached to the seed container if treated with chemicals will protect from seed borne diseases upon planting in the field.
· in cottonseed if Bt. is mentioned on the label that the seed is resistant to cotton pink and American boll worms.
Safeguards for farmers against cheating in terms of price and quality of inputs:
· Farmers can check the price charged by the seller and the maximum retails price mentioned on the seed bags/seed containers. If the seller charges more price than the MRP mentioned on seed bag/seed container farmer can refuse to pay more than the MRP Always purchase seeds against cash memo/cash receipt which will be used as and when the seed in question failed in the field and compensation claimed thereon. At the time of purchase of seed always check that the validity of the seed on the date of purchase or use falls with in the validity/expiry period. It is also advised that before sowing the seed in the field, farmer may test the seed by sowing the small quantity of seed in sand media so as to ascertain its germination percentage of seed. In case of seed quality i.e. low seed germination, low physical and genetic purity the farmer may immediately make a written complaint to the seed inspector or Local Agriculture Extension Officer or Block Development Officer or District Agriculture Officer or consumer forum against the dealer and the seed inspector can send the seed sample to the notified seed testing laboratories to check the quality of seed mentioned on the certification tag/opel green label for taking penal action against the seller/producer of seed and compensation, if any.
UM:RC:KSS
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