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Introduction
Seed is the most critical and important input to enhance the production potential of all agricultural
crops, including fodder. The efficacy of other inputs is largely dependent on availability and
timely sowing of quality seeds of improved genetics. Therefore, an assured supply of fodder
seeds of improved varieties/hybrids to farmers at a reasonable price is crucial for enhancing
fodder production.
In India, fodder is produced from 9.38* million hectares of cultivated and 11.04* million
hectares of permanent pasture land with an average yield of 40.0 and 0.75 tonnes/hectare
respectively, which is much lower than the potential yield. Inadequate production and supply
of quality fodder seeds of high yielding varieties/hybrids is the main reason for this low fodder
yield. NDDB is assisting dairy cooperatives to facilitate production and marketing of quality
fodder seed.
Seed quality
Fodder seeds of improved varieties should have good germination and vigour, resistance to
diseases and have potential to give a high and stable yield. The seeds – properly treated,
bagged and labelled – should have safe levels of moisture content, be relatively free from
physically damaged and diseased seeds and also be free from seeds of other fodder varieties,
crops and weeds as well as inert material.
* Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture,
Government of India
Truthfully labelled seed
(Opal green tag)
Produced by seed production
agencies on self-certification basis.
Certified seed
(Blue tag)
Produced by seed production agencies with
certification from seed certification agency.
Certified and truthfully labelled seeds are used for commercial production of crops.
Generation system for certified/truthfully labelled seed
Nucleus seed
100 per cent genetically pure seed produced by plant breeders to develop a particular variety.
(used for multiplication into breeder seed)
Breeder seed
(Golden yellow tag)
Produced by plant breeders or sponsors and approved by qualified plant breeders.
(used to produce foundation seed)
Foundation seed
(White tag)
Produced by seed production agencies under the supervision of certification agencies.
(used to produce certified/truthfully labelled seed)