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

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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
potential. An improvement in quality and healthof seed for sowing constitutes a largeunexploited potential for increased foodproduction of unknown dimensions.As I reminded you earlier in my inauguraladdress, “Seed Health Management is one of thepathways to achieving the UN MillenniumDevelopment Goal relating to the elimination ofhunger and poverty” as has been believed by Prof.Swaminathan. There is, thus, every need toaddress the use of quality seed for boostingproduction and productivity. Undoubtedly, thescience of Plant Pathology and seed pathology inparticular, has an important role in the futuresuccess of programs and policies designed toincrease and sustain food production.Unawareness of quality seed particularly thehealthy disease free seed is one of the majorconcerns of today. Infected seeds not onlydisseminate the pathogens in previously diseasesfree areas but also lead to reduced germination,seedling vigor and ultimately the yield of the crop. Itis estimated that 30% disease are seed borne andcan be managed through disease free seed. SeedHealth testing is needed to be understood, in thelight of general evolution of seed sector in modernagriculture. Seed health testing may be used as atool to establish predictive relationship betweenseed borne inoculum and disease incidence,suggestive measures for effective seed treatmentfor better productivity.Seed replacement rate (SRR) in differentcrops is still very low in the country. For themajor crops such as wheat and rice it isapproximately 10.0 % and 20.0% respectively,(report form NSP). For other crops also situationis not so encouraging. In crops where hybridsare available, SRR should be 100%, whichunfortunately is not being maintained. Thus,there is urgent need to increase the quality ofseed produced so that SRR may be increased toa satisfactory level.The importance of seed may be realizedby the fact that the ICAR has launched “NationalSeed Project” and recently a “Mega SeedProject”, nationwide, with different disciplines forquality seed production in India. Still with theefforts and improvements in the SeedProgramme, the area coverage under qualityseed is only about 12 % while the rest is underfarmers own seed. Therefore, it of paramountimportance to improve the status of healthyseed production and its use through educatingfarmers, replacement of the seed frequency,demonstration of seed production andmanagement practices at the farmers level.In my opinion, the only farm with a futurewill be farms that are sustainable, economicallyviable, ecologically sound and sociallyresponsible. Sustainable crop production,therefore, holds big promise for the futureprovided quality seed is made available to thefarmers.I am delighted to know that all abovepoints have been appropriately addressed in thisparticular training course, which I am sure wasvery well designed and appropriately conducted.It is hoped that you would use theknowledge gained here in teaching, researchand extension activities at your respectiveinstitution/university. You are now in a wayalumini of this university and I am sure that youwill maintain this linkage in a dynamic manner forour mutual benefit in the pursuance of scienceof Plant Pathology, especially in the area of seedhealth management.I wish you a safe and comfortable returnjourney back home and fruitful professionalcareer ahead.“Jai Hind”ii
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Seed Health Management for Better Productivity - Govind Ballabh ...

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