Importance of Seed Certification

Seed is the only medium by which varieties evolved by plant breeding programmes spending considerable skill, time, energy and money can be continuously and repeatedly made available to the public in their original form,, on a large scale and over a long period. Seed may also be an agent either singly or in combination with other for transfer and spread of harmful fungal, bacterial or vial pathogens, nematodes, insects and weeds over crop generations and over time and space. Further it is of value only if it is pure and alive. If genetically, physically and physiologically good seed should be available for successful crop production an affective quality control mechanism is necessary, right from the choice of seed for raining the seed crop to the supply of seed so produced for subsequent crop production. Experience has shown that a sound seed certification system is the effective way for seed quality control. It is thus an essential means to reap the benefits of crop improvement research and to achieve the ultimate ends of plant breeding. Hence, seed certification forms a vital component of any seed improvement programme.