Two Afghan delegates apprised of field inspection, seed sampling

Ludhiana, December 14

Two five-day training programmes on ‘Field inspection and seed sampling methodology of major cereals, pulses and vegetables’ and ‘Visit of SPCD key staff from seed certification and production system in India’ for an Afghanistan delegation concluded here on Friday.

The trainings were conducted as a part of a research agreement with the International Centre for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), in which 14 delegates from Seed and Planting material Certification Directorate, Afghanistan, participated. Chairing the valedictory function, Dr Navtej Singh Bains, Director of Research, PAU, highlighted the role of seed certification in quality seed production for enhancing the food production. He said: “In developing countries, seed production and certification is the prerogative of the government institutions. So, there is need to strengthen these organisations through such training programmes.”

Dr KS Thind, Additional Director of Research, took note of feedback from the participants and assured them solutions in future training programmes.

The delegates also visited the University Seed Farm, Ladhowal, Centre of Excellence for Potato, Dhogri, Centre of Excellence for Vegetables, Kartarpur, Seed Processing Centre, NSC Jalandhar, Quarntime Centre in Amritsar and Onkar Seed Cororation, Amritsar, to apprise them of seed production and marketing system in India. — TNS