Seed Health Management for Better Productivity - Govind Ballabh ...

VALEDICTORY ADDRESSbyProf. A.P. SharmaVice-ChancellorG.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar- 263 145onApril 17, 2008It is a pleasure having to deliver thevaledictory address on the successful completionof the CAS training on “Seed HealthManagement for Better Productivity” (March 28to April 17, 2008). I am sure that you all haveenjoyed the scientific interaction during your stayat Pantnagar as well as exposure trip to NBPGR,New Delhi (April 03-05, 2008).In my view, the greatest threat to thewell-being of mankind is over population. Humanpopulation is projected to grow at ca 80 millionsper annum, increasing by 35% to 7.7 billion by2020, then by about 75% before leveling off atabout 10 billion. This increased populationdensity, coupled with changes in the dietaryhabits in developing countries towards highquality food and the increasing use of grains forlivestock feed, is projected to cause the demandfor grain production to more than double.However land suitable for agriculture productionis limited, and most of the soil with highproductivity potential are already undercultivation. In addition, the availability of water isrestricted, and in some regions land resourcesare depleted and the cultivated area is shrinking.Given these limitations, sustainable production atelevated levels is urgently needed. Theavailability and conservation of fertile soils andthe development of high-yielding varieties aremajor challenges to agriculture production.Safeguarding crop productivity by protectingcrops from damage by weeds, pests andpathogens is also a major requisite for providingfood and feed in sufficient quantity and quality.Improved crop management systemsbased upon genetically improved cultivars,enhanced soil fertility via chemical fertilization,pest control via synthetic pesticides, andirrigation were the hallmarks of the GreenRevolution. The combined effect of these factorsallowed world food production to double in thepast 35 years. The three annual crops viz., rice,maize and wheat, occupy almost 40% of theglobal crop land and are the primary sources forhuman nutrition world wide. As yield of theseand some cash crops positively respond to highproduction levels and/or cultivation may belargely mechanized, in the last decades, worldwidecrop production has focused on a limitednumber of plant species. Diverse ecosystemshave been replaced in many regions by simpleagro-ecosystems which are more vulnerable topest attack. In order to safe guard productivity tothe level necessary to meet the demand, thesecrops have to be protected from pests.The yield of cultivated plants isthreatened by competition and destruction frompests, especially when grown in large scalemonocultures or with heavy fertilizer applications.However, problems created by seed-bornedisease are highly ignored and control measuresunknown or inadequate. The consequence ispoor seed quality, dissemination and buildup ofseed-borne diseases and yields far below thei