Seed Certification Agency

Last updated May 20, 2018

The broad principles for forming a seed certification agency are:

Should not involve in production and marketing seeds.
It should have a autonomy body.
The seed certification standards and procedure adapted by S.C.A should be uniform. The same standard and procedure should be adopted through out the country.
It is closely associated with technical institute. Its relationship with other institute should be clearly defined.
Should be operating on a no-profit-no loss basis.
Technique staff (adequate) trained in seed certification should be maintained.
Prevision for creating adequate facilities and timely inspections.
It should be served in the interests of seed produces and buyers.

Structure of Seed Certification Agency

Director: The director is responsible for the all over functioning of the company. He should be the member of secretary of the board of director and also the chairmen of various committees framed time to time with specific problem.

Supervisors (seed certification officers): For each group of related species under certification e.g. cereal seeds, vegetable seeds etc. He should the put in charge of supervising the field inspector’s work and observes the rules and regulations, minimum standers are met or not. He should trained seed inspectors and other personal involved in inspection.

Seed Certification Inspectors: He should be a trained and technical based of the seed certification system. During field inspection season, he must be willing to work long hours during peak period. He should be encourage and pursuable seed growers and seed producer to adopt new techniques and scientific finding. He should be good at public relation and also to guide and lead farmers by his devotion to work.

Duties and responsibilities of Seed Certification Agency

To arrange for suitable application, inspection and report forms.
To identify source of breeders seed. That can be used as the basis for further multiplication.
Through field inspection, that prescribes the minimum standard for isolation, planting ratio, raguing etc.
To assists seed growers and producers in obtaining suitable planting seed. This is especially in case of H.S.P.
To assists seed producer at the time of harvesting, drying & processing.
To draw a seed sample and inspect seed lots & submit such sample to the seed testing laboratory for maintaining the prescribed seed standards.
To issue appropriate seed certification tags for seed lots.
To maintain adequate records. So that the eligibility of specific lot can be determined in subsequent years.
Close working relationship between seed growers, dealers, research personals government’s officials, etc.
To take appropriate corrective actions against rigorously any violation of prescribed standards or complaints from uses of certified seeds.