Initiatives in the area of ‘Fodder seed production enhancement'

A. Breeder Seed Production and allocation to Dairy Cooperatives

NDDB acts as the nodal agency on behalf of the dairy cooperatives for coordination with the Department of Agriculture Cooperation (DAC), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India for evaluation and introduction of improved varieties of fodder crops.

This involves the following:

  • Collection of breeder seed indent from fodder seed production plants two years in advance, compilation and online placement on seed-net website. 
  • Once the DAC allots breeder seed to NDDB, the same is reallocated to all indenting fodder seed production plants/agencies and timely lifting is ensured.
  • Networking with all stakeholders such as dairy cooperatives, DAC, ICAR institutes and State Agricultural Universities for ensuring that improved germplasm is brought in to seed production chain at the earliest for the benefits of dairy farmers.

This activity is executed separately for kharif and rabi seasons. About 15-20 Metric Tons (MT) of breeder seed are handled on an average in a year and brought into the seed production chain.

B. Fodder Seed Multiplication through ‘National Fodder Seed Grid’

As part of this activity, the breeder seeds of improved varieties of fodder crops are supplied to ‘Fodder Seed Processing and Marketing Units’ of Dairy Cooperative Federations/ Milk Unions for further multiplication through their network of dairy cooperative societies by involving seed growers/ farmers.

NDDB is actively involved in this process too and provides technical guidance to these agencies for the selection of suitable varieties as per agro-climatic conditions, adoption of the relevant fodder seed production technologies for maximizing output of foundation/ certified/ truthfully labelled seeds.

NDDB, through the ‘National Fodder Seed Grid’, ensures efficient marketing of the same by facilitating close interactions among stakeholders with the objective of attaining a Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) of over 20 per cent.

C. Infrastructure development for Fodder Seed Production and Marketing

NDDB has rendered assistance to dairy cooperatives for the establishment of ‘Seed Processing Plants’ in varied agro-climatic zones. 17 such plants have been established. Every year, around 6000 to 7000 MT of fodder seeds are produced and marketed by dairy cooperatives.