Problems and solutions to seed sector during the havoc of corona.

Nischal Gurung

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illness such as respiratory diseases or gastrointestinal diseases. Respiratory diseases can range from the common cold to more severe diseases. Example;

• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV)
• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV)

In-order to control the outbreak of CoVID-19, the government had decided to go under a nation-wide lockdown from Chaitra 11 and is still continuing. But the lockdown has also caused negative impacts in several sectors especially on the agriculture sector. The following are some of the problems being faced by the seed production sector:

• Because of the nationwide lockdown, the fertilizers needed for the seed production aren’t available. Thus, causing less production leading to a seed shortage. Hence in the upcoming year more seeds have to be imported which may also cause the hike in the seed prices.
• The agro-vets isn’t considered as an essential infrastructure by the government during this period. Thus, they are closed due to which the supply and the demand of the seeds don’t coincide.
• The main importer of the seeds is India in context of our country. Due to the lockdown, transportation isn’t running which is leading to the untimely supply of seeds. 
• Seed inspectors are confined to their homes and haven’t been able to do their work. Thus, poor quality seeds are being supplied which will eventually lead to crop failure. 
• The pandemic has also affected India which is our main importer in-terms of seed production. Thus, this directly affects the availability of seeds in our country.
• Due to the lack of manpower, the harvesting of the crops and other plants aren’t done in time. Thus, leading to a large wastage of the production.
• The harvested seeds will be affected by many diseases, fungi, pathogens, etc. leading to wastage and crop failure. 

So, in-order to decrease the effect of lockdown especially on the agricultural sector, the following points can be followed:

• Generally, there are 2 types of seed system in-case of Nepal. They are: formal and informal seed system.

Informal seed system is the method in which the farmers prepare and preserve their produced seeds for the plantation.

Formal seed system is the system in which organized production and distribution of tested and released/registered varieties by public and private organizations using agreed control mechanism. 

During this period of lockdown, the informal system should be given much emphasis as it is easier to get and locally available.

• The government should open seed storages as this infrastructure can prevent the seed shortages during this kind of period.
• The government should include agrovets and other seed distributing centers as an important infrastructure which should remain open during the lockdown so that they can supply seeds to the farmers.
• Nepal should bring up a provision for creating hybrid seeds. In 2017, a hybrid maize variety was launched called Rampur-10. Nepal’s average maize yield is 2.67 tonnes per hectare whereas the productivity of Rampur-10 is 7 tonnes per hectare in irrigated condition. If such seeds are produced in a high scale then the country won’t need to import seeds anymore. 

The SQCC developed a provision called National Seed Division (2013-2025) for seed sector development. The following are the strategies:

• Promote use of quality seeds by expanding farmers’ choice including use of local genetic resources. 
• Support public, community and private enterprises in seed production, seed multiplication, processing and conditioning through efficient seed quality services. Strengthen varietal development, release, and maintenance breeding using diverse gene-pool both from local and exotic sources.
• Enhance marketing skills of seed entrepreneurs and invest in seed related infrastructure. 
•  Create enabling environment for developing efficient and effective public, community and private seed related organizations with business culture.

According to the annual budget 2019/20, seed substitution rate will be increased by developing advanced varieties of crops. Biological and local seeds and species will be protected and expanded. Necessary budget has been provisioned for seed quality testing facilities in all provinces. Whereas, according to the budget of 2077/78, the government has included a provision to return the cost of the quality seed if bought from the legally authorized seed supply center.

PROBLEMS REGARDING TO THE POLICIES

• Every annual budget includes the provision of agricultural loans but the only few farmers are getting such facility.
• The use of local and biological seeds is mentioned in most of the budget speech but the implementation is yet to be seen.

SOLUTIONS TO POLICIES

• The decentralization of the power among the local bodies as can help to minimize the pressure upon the government, which leads to the proper implementation of the laws and policies.
• The government should be stable. There should be proper coordination and cooperation between the governing bodies.
• The government personals who formulate the policies should be technically sound and also know whether the given policy will benefit the people before the formulation of such policies.

SOLUTIONS TO SEED BUSINESS

• Seed network: Develop and strengthen network of dealers and seed supply channels in public and private sector. Develop seed committees at district, region and national level for a proper planning and coordination. 
• Seed marketing infrastructures: Develop district, regional and national seed market centers. 
•  Enhancing seed marketing skills: Develop institutional base for seasonal forecast of quality seed demand and supply. Train seed entrepreneurs and support local institutions to plan and market quality seed.  
• Seed extension and market promotion: Promote new varieties of seed through extension tools. Support market campaign for promoting local seed distribution through seed fair, exhibition, tours, print and electronic media.  
• Promotion of seed export: Support seed production of identified varieties of prioritized crops in selected pockets for export and provide incentives to exporters and explore international seed market. 
•  Capacity building: Strengthen the capacity of local institutions to market, monitor, analyze and disseminate information on current and future demand of seed. Train entrepreneurs in seed marketing.

SOLUTION TO POST HARVEST LOSS

• Minimum Selling Price:  The government should fix a MSP so that the farmers do not have to worry whether their crops will sell or not. If they get a fixed amount irrespective of their crop sell, the farmers will produce without any hesitation.
• Packaging: It is also a very common and very effective method to protect the fruits and vegetables from the mechanical injuries, tampering and contamination by physical, chemical and biological sources. This also allows the transportation of the seeds to a further destination.
• Storage: Storage is the art of keeping the quality of agricultural materials and preventing them from deterioration for specific period of time, beyond their normal shelf life. Whether the seed will be used for new plantings the following year, the grower must be aware of harvesting and storage requirements toward a quality product. 

Cold storage are also of a great use. The products which are produced is an amount greater than the demand can be stored here so that they can be sold in the off seasons and profit can be earned. This method is suitable for those areas where the products are sold at a less price and have to be thrown because of their greater production.

(Author is Bsc Agriculture student at IAAS, TU)