A pilot initiative named “Community Managed Seed Systems” is implemented by the Department of Agriculture in partnership
with the NGOs and farmers’ groups.
The program envisages to decentralise production and distribution of seed production within
a cluster of villages integrating Seed Village Program and seed subsidies.
It is intended to achieve local self-sufficiency in seeds.
The objective is to achieve
Mandal level self-sufficiency in seeds distributed by the Department of
Agriculture and farmer saved seeds
Support diversification of crop systems
Popularising varieties
Diversification of the seed sources so that the seed market is competitive
To establish a relevant and robust seed system with management control in
the hands of farmers.
Each Mandal is divided into Clusters of Gram Panchayats (say 4 clusters in each
Mandal) – one of the Clusters will be the anchor for the Mandala Vittana
Kendram
Seed production and distribution is taken up within the cluster for all the crops*
relevant to the local area.
Seed Production Farmers will be encouraged to get registered
at mandal level in course of time; this registered legal entity which takes the
responsibility of the entire system
One AEO will be designated as the Member-Convener for the Cluster Seed
Institution and AO will be the member-Convener for the Mandala Seed
Institution.
Initially an NGO or CBO may be identified as facilitating organisation for the
systems to be established.
Seed farmers will pay their share capital into the Mandal VittanaKendralu – these
will be eventually registered as Seed- FPOs.
Each MandalVittanaKendram will have a computer with internet access.
Crop, variety and quantity of seeds to be produced within the Cluster will be
decided at the Cluster level and an annual agreement will be made with the seed
farmers (in an annual meeting in the presence of AO and ADA, MPP and Agrl
University). This leads to an annual work plan.
Agriculture Department will place the Annual Seed Indent i.e. seed that it
requires for subsidy distribution with the VittanaKendram.
Seed-Farmer wise targets will be fixed and the Plan for distribution of
Foundation Seed/ Stage 1 or Stage 2 seed will be decided.
Seed farmers deposit their share of the costs for purchase of foundation seed.
Training plan for the seed farmers will also be worked out with dates and
resource persons.
The Seed Certifying Agency will do certification and takes the responsibility of
doing it timely
A mobile-app will be developed; the para-certified will take photograph of the
field with the farmer, log GPS coordinates with time-stamp and upload it to the
server. The seed-certification agency, agriculture department, mandala
vittanakendralu etc., can have access to the website where the fields are visible
on a google earth map with photographs.
The certified seed will be bagged and stamped / tagged.
All the nodal VittanaKendram in the Mandal will have mobile seed cleaning/
processing units
maintained by
them. The cluster
kendralu will take
them on hire basis
when needed.
Each
vittanakendram
will have a drying
yard and a storage
room (in course of
time) and bags
required.
1.Subsidy Seed Distribution:
Seed distribution will happen at the Cluster VittanaKendralu – and
managed by the farmers’ groups with AEO/ AO.
The names of eligible farmers will be maintained in the e-database along
with copies of their passbooks.
Farmers eligible for seed subsidy will pay their share to the Cluster
VittanaKendram or directly to the seed farmer.
Certified seed will be distributed at the Cluster VittanaKendralu after
processing and required documentation will be done.
Subsidy will be released to the bank account of the farmer after sowing
the crop.
2.Direct Seed Sales:
The Mandala Vittana Kendra will also have a counter for sale of seed
produced by its seed-farmers.
Certified seed produced locally will be sold through the counter.
1.Decentralising and democratising the subsidy seed distribution system.
Costs will be low, can make seed available right in time with less hassles.
Entire operation of the system and its documentation can be automated
with mobile-web based software application.
Leaves much time for the Agriculture Department for technical extension
support rather than subsidy administration.
The system will create stakes for farmers and takes it away from
bureaucracy with transparent mechanisms.
2. Aids in diversification of crops with quality seeds available locally
3. Will be a competitor for the private sector – helps in keeping the prices in check.
4. Scientific capacity of larger number of farmers will be built and the institutional
capacities of farmers increase.