Strategies to make available quality seed of improve varieties/ hybrids in meghalaya

Strategies: Advanced preparation of seed rolling plan Ensure availability of - Quality seed for each season - Formulate programme of identifying genuine growers - Training farmers to be registered growers in each a a a district of the state for seed production Maintenance of seed purity and quality through regular monitoring and evaluation Seed bank to be set up in cluster villages

State seed certification agency be set up in the state Contd.... State seed certification agency be set up in the state Construction of more number of seed go-downs under seed village programme State seed farm in different agro-climatic zone of the state be established Seed testing laboratory to be set up in each district of the state Seed testing to be conducted in seed testing laboratory to ensure germination before distribution to the farmers

Post harvest drying, packaging and labelling of seeds imperative Contd...... Post harvest drying, packaging and labelling of seeds imperative Conduct PVS (Participatory Varietal Selection) to identify and disseminate farmer-preferred varieties Introduce agri-clinics and agri-business centres Facilitate rapid spread of quality seeds of improved/ hybrid varieties among farmers through i. Demonstration of programmes in cluster area ii. Dessemination of information through multimedia of a availability of quality seeds to farmers

Contd.... Implement multi-locational trials to assess suitability of advanced breeding lines and currently available varieties Develop linkages with breeding stations to source breeding materials and advanced lines Identify landraces with desirable traits and collect germplasm of such landraces Evolve improved nursery management techniques for local soil types and weather conditions

Contd..... Conduct improved land preparation methods and treatment of problem soils Implement site-specific nutrient management instead of blanket recommendations Promote use of appropriate agricultural machineries and mechanical devices Implement suitable seed storage – community drying facilities, hermetically sealed containers Re-orient extension activities to be more demand-driven – target location-specific rice ecosystems

List of most suitable varieties of major crop Sl no. Crops Altitude Varieties 1 Paddy High Megh 1, Megh 2, Megh 3 Mid & Low HY: 6444, Loknath- 505 & 555, SPH-115, KRH- 2 HYV: Pantdhan-12, Ranjeet, MTU-1010, MTU-7029, IR-64, IR-36, Pankaj, Naveen, Gomati Improved variety: Bhalum 1, 2 & 3, Lampnah, Shahsarang 2 Maize Local yellow & Local white HY: Big Boss, Navjot, All Rounder HYV: Vijay composite, 3 Soybean High, Mid & Low JS-335, Bragg

Contd...... 4 Rape seed Mid & Low M-27 5 Jute Low JBO-2003 6 Wheat Sonalika 7 Black gram T-9 8 Green gram K-851 9 Arhar ICPL-87 10 Lentil Aruna 11 Bengal gram A-1 12 Pea High Azad T-1(Kashmir), Pea imported(Sultan & National Seed Company), Cheerapunji(Local) Rachna

Best practises: Adoption of SRI, increasing yield by three fold of the conventional method

Adoption of High yielding resulting in doubling of yield Hybrid varieties increasing yield by four to five times yield Expert advice to farmers through Intelligent Advisory System for Farmers (IASF)

Thank you Directorate of Agriculture, Meghalaya