About Lesson
- Done by either Department of agriculture or State Agriculture Universities or Crop Improvement Association etc.
- In Nepal, the by-laws of Seed Act (1988).
- Seed certification is done by seed certification agency i.e. Seed Quality Control Center under Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Nepal.
- Seed inspections are conducted at three levels: 1) Field inspection 2) Inspection during seed processing and 3) Laboratory testing
- Field inspections:
- To examine the seed crop in the field and to determine its suitability for certification.
- Observations are made on isolation distance, the presence of off-type plants, error in planting, planting ratio in the case of hybrid varieties, presence of objectionable weeds and plants of other crops, and the incidence of disease transmissible through seed.
- Generally, 2-4 inspections are carried out at different phonological stages of crop.
- During field inspections, objectionable weed plants and plant infected by designated (seed borne) diseases are specifically monitored.
- Inspection during seed processing:
- Done to determine whether the seeds have been dried to appropriate moisture level, and whether the correct processing procedure is being followed or not.
- To determine whether appropriate care is taken to avoid mechanical mixtures during seed processing.
- This is not common practice in Nepal.
- Laboratory testing or seed tests:
- 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 and c) moisture content test.
Join the conversation