Studies on Policy Option for Quality Seed Production and ... - NFPCSP

3.1.2 Wheat SeedSeveral studies conducted by a number of scientists at home and abroad regarding the status of qualityseed production, preservation and utilization of wheat seed at farmers’ level are described below:Page et al. (2009) reported a ‘bottom-up’ system of wheat seed technology transfer that was piloted innorth–west Bangladesh with 45 mainly marginal (food insecure) farming families. The system wasdevised following a survey which indicated that such farmers can obtain a 52% increase in wheat grainyield and extra income by switching from the old Kanchan variety to the newer, heat and diseasetolerantShatabdi variety. The bottom-up wheat seed dissemination system involved the creation of anenabling environment that allowed poor and ultra-poor farmers to store and sell selected seed ofrecently released wheat varieties. More than 50% of their seed was high quality, stored during themonsoon season and marketed to other farmers just prior to the following wheat season.Malaker et al. (2008) observed that the seed moisture content and black point severities were highest indole resulting in the lowest percentage of seed germination. The highest germination percentage wasobserved under storage in refrigerator followed by polyethylene bag, tin container and earthen pitcher.The moisture content and black point infection increased and seed germination decreased with theincrease of storage period. Prior to storage in April, the seed germination was 95%, which decreased toabout 75% at the end often months of storage (in January). Various fungal floras associated with wheatseeds differed in their prevalence depending on the length of storage period and types of container usedfor storage.Huda (1993) evaluated of quality of certified seed and farmers seed. He noted that the quality offarmers’ seed was not satisfactory in most of the cases but he opined that there were some farmers theirseed is of high standard.Planting of poor seed quality results in poor crop stands and become a significant factor affecting wheatproductivity at farmers’ level, which can be determined by standard germination test (Elias et al.,2004).Bishaw et al. (2007) reported that modern varieti es are backbone of formal seed industry. Theavailability, access, and use of quality seed of adaptable crop varieties, are critical in increasingagricultural productivity, ensuring food security, and improving farmers livelihoods. Maintaining seedquality is essential if the variety is to meet the expectation of farmers and consumers.Planting of poor seed quality results in poor crop stands and become a significant factor affecting wheatproductivity at farmers’ level, which can be determined by standard germination test (Elias et al.,2004).Baksh (1997) reported that only 37% farmers used their own stored seed and the rest 63% purchasedfrom other sources of which 14% from BADC dealers.12