सूचना तथा प्रसारण विभाग द.नं :

Seed is the basic vital unit in agriculture, which is also basis for food security, conservation of biodiversity. Seed is a material which is used for planting or regeneration purpose. However scientifically, seed is a fertilized matured ovule together covered with seed coat. Seed is the most vital and crucial input for crop production. Quality seed can be defined as varietally pure with a high germination percentage, free from disease and disease organisms, with a proper moisture content and weight. 

The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as corona virus, is an ongoing global pandemic of corona virus disease. COVID-19 causes sever acute respiratory syndrome. The outbreak was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. 

COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost every system worldwide. Seed system is not devoid of its effect. Seed supply chain has been disrupted badly with very minimal workers around this sector, right now. Not only this sector but that of food safety, world food security, has been affected severely as well. Importance of quality seeds is being understood, and is also being seen as basic tool for a secure food supply because of this havoc going around in the world. Quality seeds ensures good crop stand because of its high genetic and physiological qualities. Production of seeds by following proper seed cycle, unifying seed system, with complete knowledge and technological training on post-harvest operations up to marketing, utilization reliable, sustainable, standard in line with sustaining food security and enhancing productivity. 

India is one of the biggest contributor of food goods in Nepal. The shortage in the food supply of vegetables from India, rice exports were also halted from India, affecting food availability dimension of food security. As there are limitations with the availability of seeds and other inputs during jammed market everywhere over Nepal. The framework for seed supply chain in Nepal has completely broken off during this period. That’s why, one of the popularly viewed solutions for solving food insecurity during this pandemic COVID-19 is availability of quality seeds. Producing quality seeds is an effective tool to address the issue of self-sufficiency, food security and economic development. As they also found to be profitable in terms of monetary as farmers can get high return per unit area as the genetic potentiality of the crop be fully exploited, with the increased nutrient use efficiency. 

Production of quality seed and for making it reach it out to every farmers in every part of Nepal efficiently, it needs to be supported by many institutions and government too.

Solutions for seed sector arose due to corona

• Actions from actors of seed system to produce quality seed

• Encouraging farmers for seed replacement with quality seed

• Digitalization on seed sector

• Launching of seedNL in Nepal

• Increase in association with international companies to improve quality of seed

• Enhancing the genetic factors of seeds through breeding

• Providing seeds on kitbox as relief package

• Increased seed storing facilities

• Introduction of sanitary measures in Agriculture to produce healthy seed

• Usage of micro-climatic condition in integration with workshop training  

Now, its not a matter of wounder that nature is deteriorating in rapidly with the increased population, urbanization, industrialization; that has disturbed balance within complex, causing many climatic hazards. But mother nature knows how to heal herself. That’s why quality seeds are most important for food security and food self-sufficiency during this pandemic period.