Seed certification system in Nepal

Seed is ripened ovule that contains embryo. Seed is a primary input for beginning in scientific agriculture and most important catalyst for other input to be cost effective Seed certification system is a legal system for controlling quality of seed during seed multiplication and production. It is a scientific and systematically designed process to secure, maintain, multiply and make available seeds of notified and related varieties to the farmers. Seed certification is carried out through field and laboratory inspections. 

Seed certification was started first in wheat in Nepal. Seed act (1988) has been enacted for the system of seed certification. Different activities like, growing and maintenance of new varieties with its multiplication, field inspection, seed quality tests and pre or post quality check are included in the process. Certification is a voluntary method. Labelling is compulsory. The general seed certification standards have to be followed and are applicable to all crops which are eligible for certification, and with field and seed standards for the individual crops. 

The basic steps in this include:

• Thoroughly checking of the seed producing bodies, 

• Land, location of the seed producing areas are checked, 

• Source and class of the seeds are also checked, 

• Field inspection of the seed crops, 

• and the agricultural practices followed are also observed, 

• Seed sampling for inspection and the tests of their quality is also done,

• Bagging, tagging, sealing, and grant of certification tags are followed later.

The minimum number of field inspection in required at different growth stages of the specified crop species. The minimum isolation meters are checked according to the crop varieties. 

Objectives of seed certification: 

Certification helps to maintain availability of seed to public with certification of high quality seed maintaining many varieties and kinds so that to maintain genetic identity and purity. The main responsible seed certifying body in Nepal is Seed Quality Control Center (SQCC), under Ministry of Agriculture Development.  Regional seed testing lab also work in their certification procedure. The major objectives are:

• To ensure genetic identity of a variety. 

• To ensure high degree of physical purity.

• To ensure high degree of germination. 

• To ensure freedom from all designation seed borne diseases, weeds and other crop seeds.

• To maintains high quality of different kinds and varieties of seeds among the farmers through certification.

• To ensures the acceptable standard of seed viability and vigor. 

• To ensure better yield, drought tolerance, herbicides tolerance, pest tolerance and other improved traits.

 Helps knowing the quality of mother plant

Classes of Seed

There are different governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations that work for seed certification and seed production. Seeds are categorized in two ways on the basis of the organization producing it. Seed produced under the supervision of government are classified under Seed Certification System and those of non-governmental organization are classified under truthful labelling system. According to Seed Certification system, Seed has following categories:

1. Breeder Seed:

Breeder Seed is seed or vegetative propagation material, that is controlled by originating or sponsoring plant breeder of the program, or institute, whose production is personally supervised by qualified plant breeder. It provides source for the initial and recurring increase of foundation seed. Breeder seed is genetically so pure as to guaranty that in the upcoming generation, that is, certified foundation seed class is confirmed to prescribe standard of purity. It is physically pure. This seed is produced in a very small quantity. A specific logo is used for its identification and that is brown color background, written in black. It is signed by breeder who developed the seed. The percentage of weed, other seed, insect, diseases is 0.

2. Foundation Seed:

It is the progeny of breeder seed. It is used only for the production of certified seed. It is supervised and approve by the certification agency and be handled to maintain specific genetic identity and genetic purity. It is produced in limited amount, but a little bit more than breeder seed. The general standard for the foundation seed are as follows: Genetic purity=98%, physical purity=more than 90%, minimum germination =80-85%.

It has tag with white color background written in black and signed by seed certifying officers and producer.

3. Certified Seed: 

Certified Seed is the progeny of foundation seed that is grown by registered seed grower under the supervision of the seed certification agency.

Certified seed is produced by the person, company, cooperative or institution who have taken permission for production from Government farm, research center or from related authorized body. The general standards of certified seed are as follows: Genetic purity-+98%, physical purity =98 %, and minimum germination percent= 80, inert matter 2 % or less. It is further divided into two classes. Class I has tag with white color background and written in blue color and blue color band on any side. And Class II has white background with green text.  It is signed by seed certifying officer and seed producer.

4. Improved seed:

The seed produced either using foundation or certified seed of the crops under the supervision of seed producer and/ or seed specialist is called improved seed. It is used for commercial production of crops by the farmers so produced in mass scale or large quantities by seed producing farmers or the seed producing cooperatives. To identify the seed, it is provided with tag of yellow color as background and written in black color. It is signed by seed certifying officer and seed producer.

According to Truthful Labeling System, seeds produced by non-governmental organizations are classified as:

1. Breeder Seed: 

The seed is produced by those companies and cooperatives that have been given permission to by government. The seed is produced by the breeder of the seed company or Institution who is involved in the varietal development program. Breeder seed should be genetically 100 % pure as in seed certification system. It should also be free from other seed, varieties, weed seed, diseases and insects. The seed is stored with tag of brown color written in black, signed jointly by breeder and the representative of the institute producing it.

2. Source seed: 

The seed is produced from breeder seed. Stander and quality of source seed should be equivalent to foundation seed mentioned under seed certification system. The private seed company, institution, agency or individual who have taken permission for seed production can produce source seed from breeder seed. It is produced under supervision and control of seed specialist of private company, or cooperative or institution. This is identified with the white tag attached with it, written in black 

3. Label Seed:

According to seed certification directive (2018), The quality and stander of label seed should be equivalent to certified seed mentioned under seed certification system. The seed company or institution or person who have taken permission from government, for label production can produce label seed.  It is also produced under supervision and control of seed specialist from private company or institution. Tag attached with such seed is white background written in blue.

4. Improved Seed: 

Depending upon the mode of pollination, improved seed can be produced from any of the seeds mentioned above. The minimum requirement to be improved seed is similar to that of improved seed under Seed Certification System. It is used for commercial production. The joint signature of seed producer and processor, and seed specialist involved, logo of seed company must be maintained with seed storage. Tag to identify it is yellow background written in black. 

Procedure of seed certification.

1. First of all, the certified grower should apply for the registration to the concerned certifying agency. Personal information and purpose of application should be included while applying for registration.

2. After approval of application, Applicant are provided with genetically and physically pure breeder seed along with little funding.

3. After collecting breeder seed grower sow those seed in the isolated field so as to protect them from any kind of contamination. The sowing report is prepared and provided to concerned agency.

4. Certifying agency then send the field inspector or officer to inspect the field to verify the factors affecting purity and health of seed. Field inspection takes places in different stages of crop such as vegetative state, flowering stage, fruiting, pre-harvesting, harvesting and post-harvesting stages. From these inspections the inspector also makes the report in different indices of seed. 

5. If the report is satisfactory, fulfills all the criteria of purity and health, then it is collected and stored or transferred to nursery for sowing or storage along with tagging with the tags of different tags which includes the name of producer, name of species, date of collection, locality factor, climatic condition, soil condition and quality of seed, date of dispatch and condition of seed at the time of dispatch.

Knowledge is growing related to seed business among the people of Nepal. Different seed production initiatives are carried on seed certification. It has been defined by the respective institute. Even when seed is to be purchased from private or from some other state departments such certification are essential, with long term vision Nepal adopted a holistic vision for the development of Nepal’ seed sector included in “National Seed Vision 2013-2025”. The leading organization for the seed certification is “Seed Quality Control Center” (SQCC), MOAD. Other agencies like regional testing lab also work on their certification procedures. \. Establishment/functional organizations which have duties and responsibilities of seed test and also possesses power to notify the kind and varieties. In Nepalese context, seeds are properly labelled and recorded in the register, following information are included in the list like the species (Latin name and Nepali name), date of collection, place of collection, district, Zone.