Seed is an essential input for crop production. Farmers’ access to quality seed of superior varieties is key in increasing agricultural productivity and production. For any successful quality seed programme, it is mandatory to produce sufficient quantity of seed with appropriate research backup on various aspects of seed technology viz., production research, maintenance, quality assurance, processing, storage, quality enhancement etc. In a bid to shoulder the responsibility, ICAR established Directorate of Seed Research during December 2004 by upgrading AICRP-NSP (Crops) which was launched during 1979-80. Directorate of Seed Research, through its flagship projects viz., AICRP – NSP (Crops) and ICAR Seed Project, presently combined as AICRP on Seed (Crops), under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Assam Agricultural University is also a part of the programme since inception, and contributing towards catering the need of breeder seed of the entire North Eastern States. Seed Technology Research (STR) Component was introduced in the year 2000 in Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat and has made significant achievements by developing appropriate technologies relevant to seed through basic, applied, strategic and anticipatory research leading to seed security which is a prerequisite for assuring food security. Apart from technology development; capacity building with focus on skill intensification, technology dissemination, model deployment (farmers participatory approach and seed village programme), employment generation, commercial orientation addressing gender outlook i.e. women entrepreneurship, expansion of seed activity in untapped areas are significant contributions of the project.
Mission of AICRP on Seed (Crops):
· To ameliorate Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) and Varietal Replacement Rate (VRR) through production of adequate quantity of breeder seed and to develop regional specific seed technologies for improved yield and productivity.
Mandates of AICRP on Seed (Crops):
· To produce breeder seed as per national requirement and augment quality seed production among agricultural crops in the country.
· To conduct, coordinate and monitor research on different aspects of seed science and technology.
· Qualitative and quantitative enhancement in seed production capabilities of institutions under NARES
· Capacity building among various stake holders on seed production, processing, storage & packaging, quality control and seed health.
· To establish linkages with Crop Improvement Projects, Seed Industry, Seed Regulatory Agencies, NGOs, KVKs etc.
IX. A series of awareness camps on preserving traditional rice varieties was conducted for utilization of these varieties for livelihood improvement was organized.
a. Preserving future genetic resources through capacity building of women farmer and utilization for livelihood improvement (2012-2016)
b. Morphogenetic Barcoding of Aromatic and Glutinous Rice varieties of Assam (2015-2018)
c. Genome and Transcriptome sequencing of Aromatic Rice from NE region (2016-2020)
d. Differential expression of gene for grain aroma at post harvest stages and identification of ideal condition for aroma retention for Assam aromatic rice
XIV. Details of technology developed and their adoption
Sl. No.
Technology Developed
Technology demonstrated& Adopted
Adopting agency/ stake holders
1.
Seed enhancement using bio agents for organic rice seed production
Physiological studies and development of priming technologies for enhancing planting value of seed in field crops under optimal and sub-optimal conditions for pigion pea, mustard and lentil
All India recommendation by AICRP on Seed (Crops)
XV. The technology entitled “Seed solarization technique for management of pulse bruchid” has been identified and recommended for release during 37th annual group meeting of AICRP on Seed (Crops) 2022.
XVI. The technology entitled “Pre-harvest spraying of insecticides for pulse bruchid management” been identified and recommended for release during 37th annual group meeting of AICRP on Seed (Crops) 2022.