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Lecture No: 4
Seed Certification
Seed certification is a legally sanctioned system for the quality control of seed during
seed multiplication and production. As per Indian Seed Act seed certification is voluntary and
it is not compulsory. The seed that is sold in the market is of two types certified seed or
truthfully labeled seed. The seed, which is being certified by seed certification agency, is
called as certified seed. The certification agency is a separate organization meant for
certifying the quality of the seed and it has nothing to do with seed production. The seed
certification agency maintains certain strict standards before issuing the certification tag or
label. Where as truthfully labeled seed is one which is being produced and marketed by the
producing company by maintaining the labeling standards. The farmer or the user of the seed
does not know the pedigree of the truthfully labeled seed and he has to relay on the seed
producing company. Where as the certified seed has to maintain both field and seed standards
and if the seed lot meets both the field and seed standards then only the certification tag or
label is issued.
History of seed certification
Exactly where and how the concept of seed certification was originated is not clear. But
the credit of seed certification goes to Swedish people. In 20 th century the newly developed
varieties lost their identity due to genetic contamination and mechanical mixtures. To avoid
this, Agronomist and breeders started visiting the fields of progressive farmers and educated
them to avoid mechanical mixtures and keep the seed genetically pure. This process slowly
led to field inspection. The farmers and the scientists thought that field inspection could be
useful in maintaining genetic purity of crop varieties. But other problems started like to what
extent the mechanical mixtures or genetic contamination should be permitted etc. To
overcome these problems representatives from USA and Canada met in Chicago Illinois in
1919 and organised the International Crop Improvement Association (ICIA). The ICIA,
which later in 1969 changed its name to Association of Official Seed Certification Agency
(AOSCA), laid the beginning of modern day seed certification.
Procedure for seed certification: Seed certification is voluntary and that too for the kind and
variety notified by the government of India. It can be completed in six broad phases.
1. Receipt and scrutiny of the application.
2. Verification of seed source, class and other requirements.
3. Filed inspection should be conducted to see that fields are up to the prescribed field
standard.
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4. Post harvest inspection, including processing and packing.

5. Seed sampling and testing to confirm that the seeds are up to the prescribed seed
standards.
6. Grant of certificate, tagging and sealing.
1. Receipt and scrutiny of the application: All those persons who are interested in seed
certification should submit an application in Form No 1 to the concerned seed
certification officer with the prescribed fees of Rs 25/-. The fee is for one season for a
single variety and for an area up to 25 acres (10 ha.) If the area is more than 25 acres or if
more than one variety is planted separate applications should be made for each variety. If
the area is less than 25 acres under one variety but if the fields are scattered and separated
by more than 50 meters separate applications should be made. On receiving the
applications the seed certification agency verifies for the following conditions:
1. Eligibility of the variety: Only those varieties that are notified by the central govt. are
eligible for certification.
2. Establishing the seed source: The seed producer should submit the tag, in-voice, and a
copy of Form No2.)
3. There should not be any difficulty in reaching the field for carrying out timely field
inspection.
4. Whether the required isolation and land requirement is followed or not.
5. Whether the processing plant facility is available to the applicant.
6. Whether the applicant has paid the requisite registration fee or not.
If all the six conditions are fulfilled then the seed producer has to pay the field inspection fees
as given below:

Various certification Charges

1. Cost of the form No 1 : Rs 2.00

2. Registration fee (per unit) : Rs 25.00
3. Inspection fee (per ha.)
a. Self-pollinated Crops : Rs 125.00
b. Cross Pollinated Crops : Rs 175.00
c. Other than Cotton hybrids/parents : Rs 175.00
d. Cotton Hybrids : Rs 800.00
e. Vegetable Crops : Rs 150.00
4. Grow Out Test (per sample) : Rs 150.00
5. Seed Testing
a. Routine tests : Rs 30.00 per sample
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b. Health tests : Rs 5.00 per sample

c. Revalidation Charges (sample) : Rs 30.00
6. Revalidation fees per quintal and part thereof : Rs 10.00
7. Reprocessing/ Re grading fee : Rs 5.00
(per quintal of part thereof)
[Link] of Application form for registration / : Rs 5.00
renewal of processing plant
9. Processing / Ginning Plants
a. Registration fee : Rs 1000.00
b. Renewal fee : Rs 500.00
10. Repackaging charges per quintal : Rs 10.00
11. Cost of seed certification tags per 1000 nos : Rs 60.00
12. cost of cotton seed tags (with hologram) per 1000 : Rs 80.00
13. Appeal fee per case : Rs 100.00

2. Verification of seed source, class and other requirements. The seed should be from
authentic source and from appropriate class and should be in accordance with Indian
Minimum Seed Certification Standards.
3. Inspection of Seed Fields. The certified seed producers should grow and harvest the
crop as per the guidelines issued by the seed certification agency. They must carefully
and faithfully carry out the roguing and other operations as per the directive of the
certification agency.
The certification staff conducts field inspections at appropriate stages of crop
growth to ensure that minimum standards of isolation, preceding crop requirement,
roguing and other special operations are maintained at all times. The inspection of seed
crop is done at different stages of crop growth such as at the time of sowing (when new
crop is introduced), vegetative stage or preflowering stage, flowering stage, post flowering
or preharvest stages and at the time of harvest. The contaminants to be observed during
field inspections are offtypes, pollen shedders, shedding tassels, inseperable other crop
plants, objectionable weed plants and diseased plants. The field inspections are designated
to ensure that the crop is up to the prescribed field standards. All the seed fields, which do
not meet the required field standards, are eventually rejected.
Method of taking field counts
The method of taking field counts involves following steps:
1. Determine the number of field counts. For all crops a minimum of five counts are to be
taken for an area up to two hectares, and an additional count is to be taken for each
additional two hectares or part thereof as given below.

Area of the field Minimum number

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in hectares of counts to be
taken
Up to 2 5
2-4 6
4-6 7
6-8 8
8-10 9
Above 10 10

In any inspection, if the first set of counts show that the seed crop does not confirm to
the prescribed standards for any factor, a second set of counts should be taken for that factor,
if the percentage of first set of count for that factor is not more than twice the maxmimum
permissible level. Two sets of counts are called as double counts. In hybrid seed production
plots the number of counts must be taken separately for both the parents.
2. Number of plants to be observed for completing one count. The number of plants to
be observed for completing a single count varies from crop to crop. The number of
plants/heads to be observed for completing a single count is given below.

Crop Number of
plants/heads per count
Wide spaced crops:
Bhendi, brinjal, Bulb crops, Chillies, 100 plants
Cole crops, Cotton, Cucurbits, Groundnut,
Maize, Potato, Redgram, Tomato, root crops,
etc.

Medium spaced crops:

Beans, cowpea, gram, leaf crops, moong, urad, 500 plants
mustard, peas, sesame, sunnhemp, etc.

Thickly sown crops:

Berseem, jute, lucern, mesta, soybean 1000 plants
Bajra, paddy, wheat, sorghum, etc 1000 heads

The required number of field inspections specified in the seed certification standards
should be conducted. The purpose of these filed inspections is to properly guide and advise
the seed producer, but at the same time to do the necessary inspections so that the ultimate
buyer can be assured that the seed crop has met all the necessary standards.
3. Taking of Filed Counts: The procedure for taking filed counts differs for different crops.
4. Rejection of seed fields: All the seed fields, which do not confirm to the required
standards for any of the factors should be rejected. The rejection letter should be
immediately communicated to the seed grower stating the reasons for the rejection. As far
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as possible the seed growers should be convinced for rejecting the seed fields by showing
the contaminants.
5. Post Harvest Inspection: The personnel from the seed certification agency should
inspect the fields during harvesting or post harvesting, so that there are no mechanical
mixtures and the seed is not handled badly during threshing or afterwards. Then the seed
is sent to seed processing plant with a threshing certificate. The personnel from the seed
certification agency will be inspecting the seed processing plant to avoid mechanical
mixtures and damage caused to the seed during processing.
6. Seed Sampling and Testing: The representative from seed certification agency draws a
representative sample from the seed lot at the time of processing or after processing and
sends the sample to official seed testing laboratory for evaluation. In the seed testing
laboratory the samples will be evaluated for seed standards such as pure seed, inert
matter, other crop seed, weed seeds, germination percentage and moisture percentage etc.
7. Grant of certificate, tagging and sealing. After receiving a satisfactory report from the
seed testing laboratory, tagging and sealing of bags will be done under the supervision of
seed certification agency. Under special circumstances, advance tags will also be issued
to the extent of 75 per cent of the seed lot. Tags and seals should be in accordance with
general seed certification requirements. Affixing of tags and seals on the containers
completes the process of certification of seeds.
8. Control Plot testing. The seed certification agency should arrange for a post-season
grow-out test for all hybrids as prescribed in the standards. Randomly samples should be
drawn from certified seed lots and sent to grow-out test to check the efficiency and
accuracy of the work done.
9. Validity period. The seed is initially valid for a period of nine months from the date of
testing the samples. If the seed is not sold within the stipulated period, it can be
revalidated for a period of six months if the seed lot meets the required seed standards.
The seed can be revalidated as long as it meets the prescribed seed standards and for each
revalidation the validity period will be extended for six months.
10. Revocation of certificate. If the certification agency is satisfied that the certificate
granted by it has been obtained by misrepresentation of essential facts, or the holder of
the certificate has failed to comply with the conditions subject to which the certificate has
been issued, can revoke the certificate. The certificate can be revoked only after giving a
show cause notice to the holder of the certificate.
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11. Appeal against seed certification agency: If any certified seed grower is not satisfied by
the decision taken by the seed certification agency (in rejecting the seed plot), he can
make an appeal to the appellate authority specified by the state government. The appeal
should be made within 30 days from receiving the rejection letter. The appeal should be
made in written along with a copy of the rejection letter and a treasury fee of Rs 100/-
(Rupees one hundred only). The application should be submitted personally or it should
be sent through registered post. The decision of the appellate authority will be final and it
is binding on the seed certification agency and the seed grower. The appellate authority
for Andhra Pradesh is Additional Director of Agriculture (inputs).