Inaugural address by Dr. M. B. Chetti, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, UAS, Dharwad.
Seed Quality Assurance is a Systematic and Planned mechanism for ensuring the genetic, physical, physiological purity providing overall health of seed. It is dynamic with emerging needs of global standards including land requirement, field crop investment, seed testing, pre & post control as defined by the certification standards & procedures of Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards. In view of this, a webinar on “framework and protocols for seed quality assurance” was convened by Dr. J. S. Hilli, Special officer (Seeds) under NAHEP, IDP at UAS, Dharwad on 09.09.2020. The webinar was to be inaugurated by Shri. B. C. Patil, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka, however, the webinar was inaugurated by Dr. M. B. Chetti, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, UAS, Dharwad. He welcomed all the delegates, resource persons and participants for the event. He briefed the inaugural address on behalf of Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka and stressed upon the implementation of various protocols to be followed scientifically to ensure the seed quality and also stressed upon the efforts to be made to develop the frame work of various agencies involved in seed production.
Dr. Ashok Dalwai, CEO, National Rainfed Area Authority & Chairman, Empowered Body of Doubling Farmers Income orated on importance of quality of seed to enhance the farmers income and protocols to ensure the quality both at private and public sector. Dr. M. Bhaskaran, Former Vice Chancellor, TNOU & Former Director, NSRTC, Varanasi stressed up on strict implementation of regulations governing seed quality parameters and he also narrated on the importance of certification in low volume and high value and high value low volume crops. Dr. S.K. Rao Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia, Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Gwalior expressed views on possible challenges in quality seed production and ways forward to address this at national and global level. Dr. Arvind Kapoor CEO, Rasi Seeds Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi shared detailed information on process and protocols followed in private seed sector in production of quality seed and also expressed how best public and private sector work together to achieve the quality seed production. Dr. Vijayakumar, A. G., moderated the webinar and Dr. N. K. Biradar patil, Professor (SST) narrated the summary of deliberations in brief. The convener of the webinar presented the vote of thanks.