Jharkhand Urged to Build State Seed System for Agricultural Boost

Boosting Jharkhand's Farms with Local Seeds

Daltonganj, June 29 – Jharkhand needs to take steps to create its own seed system and seed certification facility, reducing its reliance on the National Seeds Corporation, according to Dr. Dinesh Kumar Singh, Vice Chancellor of Nilamber-Pitamber University. He made this point while speaking at the 11th Foundation Day of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in Hazaribag on Saturday.

Dr. Singh emphasized the importance of self-reliance in seed production and certification for improving the state’s agricultural resilience and productivity. He noted the efforts of Jharkhand’s farmers in preserving seeds using traditional methods, but called for scientific support to improve their effectiveness. He used tomatoes as an example, highlighting the lack of a formal gene pool in the state.

Furthermore, Dr. Singh urged for the immediate establishment of basic soil testing laboratories across Jharkhand to evaluate soil moisture, nutrients, pH balance, and microbial activity, all of which are crucial for crop quality and yield.