Annual Review Meeting of ICAR Seed Project Inaugurated

New Delhi, 25th July, 2012

Annual Review Meeting of ICAR Seed Project “Seed Production in Agricultural Crops” was inaugurated by Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE & Director General, ICAR, here today. On this occasion, he emphasized on the importance of seed mission. Dr Ayyappan said, “The meeting was called before time to review progress and preparations for the next XIIth five year plan.” In the backdrop of weak monsoon, he emphasized on distribution of seeds for alternative crops. For sustainability of this project, we need more public and private partners to increase research & development in seed production, he added.

The meeting envisages to review the progress made by different cooperating centers in terms of achieving seed production and financial targets, infrastructure development, etc., during 2011-12 and also to discuss about implementation of this project during XIIth plan.

The review meeting was also addressed by Dr. P. L. Gautam, Chairman, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority; Prof. Swapan Kumar Datta, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR, Dr. J. S. Sandhu, Assistant Director General (Seeds), ICAR, and Mr. S.K. Roongta, CMD, National Seeds Corporation Limited. Many Vice chancellors of SAU’s, Directors, Project Incharge also attended the review meeting.

Earlier, Dr. S. Rajendra Prasad, Project Director, Directorate of Seed Research, Mau welcomed the dignitaries and gave a brief presentation on Action Taken Report and Progress of the project.

The project was launched during Xth five year plan involving 86 cooperating centres (38 SAU’s, 47 ICAR institutes and one non ICAR institute) covering field crops, horticultural crops and fisheries components.

The project has made significant contribution and impact on quality seed production in the country, creation of infrastructure, Human Resource Development, popularization of improved varieties/hybrids and technology diffusion during Xth and XIth plan. In order to further strengthen the infrastructural facilities, the project needs to be continued during the XIIth plan.

(Source: NAIP Mass Media Project, DKMA, ICAR)