RA 00048.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

ally one would go back to breeder's seed after
every 3 or 4 increases. Basic seed is multiplied at
the university seed farms or at the research farms
of seed companies under the supervision of
trained seed specialists. This seed class is usually
certified because it is used for the production of
certified commercial seed. All basic seed lots
should be field tested for genetic purity before
sale. The multiplication of the basic seed class
should not be restricted to governmental agencies
only. Free competition in its multiplication between
the public and private sector should be
encouraged to ensure adequate and timely supplies
of seed with desirable genetic purity. A
planned carry-over to the extent of 50% of this
seed class is essential to safeguard against future
failures from natural calamities or adverse agroclimatic
conditions. Suitable cold storage facilities
should be provided at production centers for
storing the basic seed.
In advanced countries the maintenance and
increase of the breeder and basic seed of closed
pedigree hybrids is usually the responsibility of
the parent seed stock multiplication departments
within the seed companies. These departments
are manned by qualified breeders and seed
specialists. Many organizations in advanced countries
also have made a business of producing and
selling basic seed primarily of open pedigree
hybrids.
In order to have sufficient quantities for the
production of commercial seed, it may sometimes
become necessary to introduce another class
between the basic and commercial seed multiplication
stages, particularly when multiplying seeds
of sorghum varieties. This is known as registered
seed. This seed class is usually produced on
government seed farms or by experienced seed
growers contracted by public or private seed
companies. The production is supervised by
trained seed technologists.
Commercial (certified) seed is produced from
basic (foundation or registered) seed. This is the
seed sold to farmers to sow their crop. Commercial
seed is referred to as certified seed if it is
produced according to prescribed standards
which ensure trueness-to-type, germination percentage
and seed purity. Certification is usually a
voluntary process and may not be used by
experienced companies having careful control of
their production. In such cases farmers purchase
seed, paying more attention to brand name than
to the certification tags.
In advanced countries, most of the commercial
sorghum seed is grown by private seed companies.
Either they lease the land of farmers and
carry out all operations themselves or they enter
into a preagreed procurement contract where the
farmer is responsible for all the cultivation operations,
and roguing is handled by the company's
trained technicians. Most seed farms are large.
Mechanization is convenient and economical, and
the company has control over operations whic
determine the genetic and physical quality of th
seed.
In developing countries, the certified commercial
seed is produced either on large government
farms or under contract with numerous small but
progressive farmers. All field operations on government
farms are handled by the salaried staff.
Since the element of incentive is usually lacking,
many field operations are not completed on time,
which not only reflect on seed yields but also on
its genetic and physical quality. Since government
seed multiplication programs usually enjoy hidden
or direct subsidies, they are able to attract the
farmers by selling their seed cheaper.
The farmers with small land holdings either
form themselves into a seed cooperative or enter
into a procurement contract with the public or
private sector seed companies. The seed companies
are usually better organized. They hire
competent technical staff who are conversant
with advanced production technology and thus
help their seed farmers in harvesting high acre
yield while maintaining the high standards of
purity. They create strong seed promotion, marketing,
and after sales service departments, and
they provide efficient and quick after sale services.
They establish their brand image and
farmers prefer to buy their seeds.
Problems in Seed Production
After superior hybrids have been bred they are
evaluated in yield trials and large-scale farmer field
trials before release. Most of the seed produced
at research centers for evaluation trials is through
hand pollinations. A systematic study on the ease
of production in farmers' fields under various
agroclimatic conditions should be done before a
hybrid is released for commercial planting;
however, this is seldom done. It is left to the seed
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