Punjab Agricultural University, organized one day training programme on “Seed production of field and vegetable crops” at University Seed Farm, Naraingarh, Fatehgarh sahib. About 100 farmers/ seed producers who are engaged in or tend to engage in seed production participated in this training programme and benefitted from the expert lectures organized on this occasion.
Dr. T.S. Dhillon, Associate Director, Seeds was the chief guest and exhorted the farmers to adopt new technologies to produce quality seed. He emphasized on the importance of quality seed, as agricultural production depends on the quality of seed used as it is the main input. He said that purity, quality and germination of seed are the main parameters responsible for good yield for a particular crop. At present the seed replacement requirement in hybrid seed is 100 % in Hybrid maize, 33% in case self-pollinated crops and50% in case of cross-pollinated crops.
Dr. Harinder Singh, Director, USF, Naraingarh acquainted the farmers with various agronomic practices for Quality seed production. He stressed upon following the recommended package of practices for different crops like seed rate, proper spacing, fertilizer application, managed irrigation, weed management, nursery management etc.
Dr. T. P. Singh, Assistant Plant Breeder, explained to the participants in detail about the certified seed production in field crops. He stressed upon the technologies to be followed for production of hybrid seed of berseem. He also emphasized on monitoring the crop at important stages and to follow the proper rouging as recommended so as to make the crop free from off type plant, diseased plants, volunteer plants.
Dr.Rajinder Kumar, Senior Vegetable Breeder, enlightened the participant about the guidelines to be followed for vegetable seed production. He explained them the methodology to be followed for the production of seeds of vegetables like hand pollination, tagging of plants, following isolation distance etc.
Mrs.Reet Verma, Assitant Professor (Plant Protection) made participants aware of the plant protection measures to be followed for the quality seed production of field crops and advised them to treat the seed as recommended and monitor the crop at regular intervals for the incidence of any disease or insect-pest attack. Dr.Rupinderpal Singh, Seed production specialist explained the important tips to be followed for the successful seed production. He stressed upon the selection of seed of recommended and disease resistant/tolerant varieties, method and time of sowing etc. After the technical lectures the participants were taken for the field visit and were also shown the wheat plots sown with Happy Seeder. Dr. Harinder Singh, Director, USF, Naraingarh stated that the seed farm was totally free from residue burning.