SEED QUALITY AND DISTRIBUTION
CHANNEL
22-23 March, 2011
MORRO MANGA
(NARI)
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Why Seed Quality?
Seed is planted to obtain a new generation of
the planted crop after a period of time in the
field often referred to as crop production
period.
Seed of high quality (usually improved
varieties) is one that farmers plant
It usually leads to:
-An increase in production
-Brings more returns to farmers, and
-A better welfare to the entire community
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ASPECTS OF SEED QUALITY
The quality of the seed which a farmer uses is all important
in deciding whether the crop will be good, bad or indifferent.
There are however several different aspects of quality which
can affect a crop.
Genetic quality
This is the most important quality attributes because this is
what ensures that the plant making up the crop posses the
desired characteristics set by the breeder.
Adulteration of genetic quality of a variety could come about
through gross admixtures, pollination by undesired pollen.
Analytical quality
This is the laboratory purity test and it determines the proportion of;
pure seed in the seed lot by dividing a sample into:
crop seed
other seed
inert matter
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Health quality
Some diseases or pests are seed-borne and
unhealthy seed can thus provide infection when
sown.
Infection may be by bacteria, fungi, viruses or
microorganisms, or insect pests that may be living in,
on or among the seed.
The actual amount of infection may be very small,
but because many diseases or pests are able to
multiply quickly as sown seeds germinates, small
infections can nevertheless cause extensive damage
to the crop, especially when environmental
conditions on the field are very favorable and
conducive for disease development.
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Physical Quality
This is the seed quality attributes, which may be the
all important one to the farmer who buys seed.
Although it is true that many seed samples, which
have poor appearance will grow satisfactorily when
sown, it is usually to prefer larger. plumper,bright-
looking seed. In general plumper seed may be
expected to perform better.
Unformity of seed is also important. Generally a
uniformly sized seed lot will give a more uniform
crop than one which has not been size grade.
Other physical seed quality attributes include:
Level of mechanical damage which provide
opportunity for ingress of pathogens
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Storage Quality
Seed to have good storage quality to ensure that it
maintains conditions until it is used for sowing..
The moisture content of the seed generally governs
the length of time for which it can be stored, couple
with the temperature within the store.
Germination Testing
The objective of germination testing is to:
Determines the maximum germination potential of a
seed lot, which can then in turn be used to compare
the quality of different lots and also
To estimate the field planting value of the seed in
soil outside or in the laboratory.
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Formal Distribution Channel
Breeder’s
Seed
Processing
And
Seed Growers Harvesting
Association Storage
Foundation Market Producers
(Quality (Quality
Seed Distribution (Farmers)
Seed Control Control
Production Assured) Assured)
Marketing
Seed Exchange
(Selection)
Seed Consumption Storage
Harvest
Planting
Informal Distribution Channel
Thank you
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