Forage seed production scenario in India: Issues and way forward

Abstract

Non-availability of good quality seeds especially in case of the improved varieties is the major reason for slow adoption of improved forage production technologies. The productivity and availability of quality seeds are vital because the forage crops have been bred for enhanced vegetative potential and as such they are shy seeders with very low seed productivity. The paper discusses the varietal scenario of forage crops in the seed chain, seed quality assurance, seed standards and seed certification. Of the 163 varieties of 11 forage crops notified till 2016, 90 varieties are in the seed chain comprising, 49 cultivars belonging to seven forage crops; guar (5), maize (3), sorghum (19), cowpea (12), teosinte (1), pearl millet (7) and rice bean (2) during the kharif season and 41 of four forage crops, namely, oat (18), berseem (15), lucerne (5) and gobhi sarson (3) during the rabi season. The paper also describes the status of breeder seed production and brings out issues plaguing quality seed production in these crops, assess the future seed requirement and possible approaches to address the daunting task of producing 208.1 tonnes of breeder seed by 2020 from the current level of 78.5 tonnes in the backdrop of lack of effective seed chain and very poor lifting of available breeder seed, as the forage seed production is largely concentrated in the unorganised as well as resource poor sector.