MILESTONES

• The Department of Seed Technology, a pioneer in seed technology education, research and extension was established as first of its kind in India during 1972, subsequent to the establishment of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in 1971.
• The eminent scientists of the Department, involved in teaching, research, extension and large scale production of quality seeds so as to increase the spread of improved varieties released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
• During 1992, the All India Coordinated Project (AICRP) - National Seed Project (Crops) (NSP) was implemented to support the R&D as well as seed production activities of TNAU. This led to a significant increase in area under seed production as well as quantum of seed production which eventually led to improvement of ‘seed replacement rate’ in Tamil Nadu.
• The Department was renamed as Department of Seed Science and Technology during 1999.
• Again, as first of its kind in the country, farmers of Tamil Nadu were trained to take up ‘quality seed production’ under the project sponsored by University of Guelph, Canada launched in 1997. This paved the way for production of quality seeds through ‘farmers participatory mode’.
• During 2005-06, the GoI implemented the “Mega Seed Project”, under which ICAR sanctioned Rs.605 lakhs to TNAU for the development of infrastructure.
• On 27th October, 2006 the ‘Seed Centre’ was establishment as one of the mandates of the ‘ICAR- Mega Seed Project’, to act as a “Single Window System” for coordinating the seed production activities of TNAU.
• The funds under ICAR Mega Seed Project, (Rs.605 lakhs) were utilized to upgrade the seed production infrastructure across the colleges, research stations and KVKs of TNAU.
• The Revolving funds under ICAR Mega Seed Product (Rs. 55 lakhs) was allotted to 12 seed production centres of TNAU. Besides, Rs.81.9 lakhs received under GOI - Seed Village Scheme was allocated to 13 KVKs and two research stations to expand the seed production activities.
• This led to the expansion and upgradation of the seed production infrastructure across of colleges, research stations and KVKs of TNAU. As a result, the original seed production of 526 tonnes had increased exponentially to 822 tonnes, within a period of 10 years.
• The Seed Testing Laboratory of the Department was notied by the Government of Tamil Nadu vide G.O.Ms.No.394 dt.18.12.2006 to carry out seed quality analysis of nucleus, breeder and truthfully labelled seed.
• During 2016, GOI - National Food Security Mission was launched. Under this scheme, TNAU received an amount of Rs. 10.5 crores for implementation of Pulses Seed Hubs in 7 centres. Under this project seed processing infrastructure was developed for Rs. 3.5 crores and revolving fund of Rs. 7.0 crores was utilized for seed production activities under Farmers Participatory Mode.
• Later in the year 2018, Seed Hubs were created in two research stations with an outlay of Rs.260 lakhs to take up ground nut and castor seed production under Farmers’ Participatory Mode.
• Presently, the seed and planting materials are majorly produced in 62 centres which includes the colleges, research stations and KVK’s located at different parts of Tamil Nadu.
• Seed Centre is actively coordinating seed production breeder, foundation and certified seed production in more than 200 varieties of about 40 agricultural and horticultural crops. At present the seed production in TNAU stands at 1700 tonnes per year.
• This centre plays a major role in increasing the Variety Replacement Rate and Seed Replacement of Tamil Nadu, which is instrumental in ensuring the food security of the state.