Farmers’ participatory quality seed production of field crops-A case study

Seed is the most important input to harvest a good crop. The potential yield of crop depends on the quality of the seed used for cultivation of crop. Use of quality seeds alone can enhance the crop productivity by 15-25%. One of the main reasons for low productivity of crops is unavailability of reliable quality seeds in the local markets. To enhance productivity, seed should be of high quality, which will express full potential yield of the genotype under favourable cultivation environments. Therefore, there is urgent need to establish quality seed sources at least for major crops of northern part of West Bengal. Considering the importance of quality seeds of crops, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya started Farmers’ Participatory Seed Production Programme since 2006. Initially, leading farmers were selected for seed production in two villages, namely Kharikabari (Unishbisha, Mathabhanga-2) and Petlanepra (Chotosalbari, Sitalkuchi) of Cooch Behar district. First two years (2006 and 2007), the farmers were trained on seed production technologies of major field crops of northern part of West Bengal. The farmers of Sitalkutchi and Unishbisha who involved in seed production under the guidance of UBKV were brought under one umbrella forming a Self Help Group Suphala Beej Swanirbhar Gosthi in June 2008, and registered under District Rural Development Cell, Cooch Behar in 2008. The SBSG is producing Certified and Foundation seeds of different varieties of rice, potato, pulses and mustard. The seed is being registered and certified by the West Bengal Seed Certification Agency on satisfaction of the quality of the produced seeds. The SHG sell the seeds in the brand name of Shyamali. The quantity of Certified Seeds production in the 2010-11 of rice and potato were 53 t and 75 t, respectively and subsequently the quantum of rice seed production increased to 186.0 t in Kharif-2011. Local farmers of Sitalkuchi and Mathabhanga blocks of Cooch Behar district get certified seeds of major field crops, particularly rice at reasonable price through this Farmers Participatory Seed Production programme of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya.