the Symposium on Wheats for More Tropical Environments - cimmyt

298established <strong>the</strong> National SeedCorporation (NSC) in 1963. and passed<strong>the</strong> Seeds Act in 1966. The NSC wascharged with promoting <strong>the</strong>development of a seed industry. fromproduction through processing. storageand marketing. and to establish asystem for quality control. However.large quantities of quality seed couldnot be produced in <strong>the</strong> absence of anorganized seed industry at <strong>the</strong> statelevel. In 1966. a team. consisting ofexperts from <strong>the</strong> World Bank and FAO.visited India and identified Pantnagaras <strong>the</strong> best location for launching <strong>the</strong>seed project. with <strong>the</strong> close coordinationof <strong>the</strong> G.B. Pant University ofAgriculture and Technology. Thus. <strong>the</strong>Tara! Development Corporation (TDC)was established in 1969. with <strong>the</strong>asistance of <strong>the</strong> World Bank. and wasan important landmark in <strong>the</strong>production of seed in India. The TDCundertook large-scale production ofcereals seed. particularly wheat seed.which constituted more than 75% of<strong>the</strong> total seed production of <strong>the</strong>corporation. From 7.013 tons ofcertified quality wheat seed produced in1969-70, production had increased to37.500 tons by 1983-84: this will befur<strong>the</strong>r increased to 75.000 tons by1988-89.National seed programBased on <strong>the</strong> success of <strong>the</strong> TDC. <strong>the</strong>Government of India decided toreorganize and expand <strong>the</strong> seedindustry in <strong>the</strong> country. taking <strong>the</strong> TDCas a mo<strong>the</strong>r-project. In February. 1975.a working group w~ established toprepare proposals for a National SeedProgram. Under this program. a StateSeed Corporation (SSC) was establishedin various states. At present. nine statesare participating in <strong>the</strong> program andhave established SSCs. similar to TDC.which are responsible for seedproduction. processing. quality controland marketing.Wheat Seed ProductionWith <strong>the</strong> growing consciousness amongfarmers of <strong>the</strong> advantage of usingcertified seed of good quality. demand in<strong>the</strong> country has increased many times.From <strong>the</strong> total production of about50.000 tons of seed in 1974. i.e.. before<strong>the</strong> beginning of <strong>the</strong> National SeedProgram. present availability of wheatseed in <strong>the</strong> country is 230.000 tons.This amount is sufficient to cover about10% of <strong>the</strong> area under wheat cultivation.The government is very anxious toincrease seed production to be able tocover at least 20% of <strong>the</strong> wheat area by1988-89. Thus. <strong>the</strong> country has set atarget of doubling wheat seed production(to 500.000 tons) through private andpublic-sector agencies over a period offive years. The important varieties underproduction in <strong>the</strong> country are:Sonallka(1I53-388 x An)Yt54 xNI0B)LR). UP262(S308 x Bajio 66).HD2285(249-HD21601HD2186).WL711(S308 x Chris)Kalyansona).HD2009(Lerma Rojo 64A x Nai 60).UP368(LR64 x Sonora 64).HD2204(HD2092/HDI962-E4870-K65).HUW37(Kalyansona x 5331) x HDI982).HPII02(8156(B) x NAD 63). WH147(E4870 x C303)(5339 x VI8). Raj 911(V0229) and DWLS023 (Cr"S"-Ld"S" xGrOOS"). At present. Sonalika (RR21) is<strong>the</strong> most popular variety in Indiabecause of its high yield. wideadaptability. rust resistance andSUitability for late sowing in fieldsfollowing paddy crops. It currentlycovers an area of apprOXimately 10million hectares.For <strong>the</strong> maintenance of genetic purityand consistency of seed production. <strong>the</strong>country is producing three categories ofseed. breeder. foundation and certifiedseed.Breeder seedThe breeder who developes a variety isgenerally responsible for <strong>the</strong>maintenance and production of <strong>the</strong> pureseed of that variety. About 2.000 plants.