Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state in the country in terms of area with a total geographical area of 308 lakh hectares, constituting 9 percent of the total geographic area of the country. It ranks sixth with a total population of 72 million, out of which 72% resides in rural area. The state is known for its abundant natural resources including forest, minerals, rivers and valleys. There are 11 agro-climatic zones, five crop zones and varying land use, soil types, rainfall and water resources, distributed across 51 districts in the state. Also, a significant proportion of tribals and dalits reside in the state together comprising 35% of the total state population.
 

The state economy of Madhya Pradesh is predominantly rural and agrarian in nature. Agriculture sector is the mainstay of the state’s economy and is the only sector providing employment and livelihood options to majority of the rural population in the state. According to Census 2011, 69.8% of the total workers and 85.6% of the total workers in rural areas are largely dependent on agriculture for livelihood in Madhya Pradesh. This comprises 31.2% cultivators and 38.6% agriculture labours. The sector is also contributing 24.9% to State’s GDP at constant prices (2004-05 prices) and 33.6% at current prices. Hence, the positive and consistent growth rate of this sector is of immense importance to drive the state economy, especially the rural economy. It also it has a great potential in influencing the state as well as the national economy in environmentally sustaining ways.
There are numerous empirical evidence showcasing the correlation of positive agriculture growth and socio-economic development status of the citizens by way of making a dent on poverty, ensuring food and nutritional security, raising income levels and employment opportunities etc. It is also true that a thriving rural livelihood will lead to more refined urban life by reducing the migration from rural areas and putting less pressure on urban infrastructure and services.

• Seed Management System

Ø    Activities

The execution of system envisages planning, production, monitoring, processing, marketing and supply of seeds to the indenters from a single window. It is being operated through Directorate of Farms of the University. The system has been effective for the successful implementation of seed production programme. The Nodal Centers for the programme is under operation at Jabalpur with three satellite centres viz., Rewa, Tikamgarh and Powarkhed located at Zonal Agriculture Research Stations.

• Field Crops – ICAR
• Soybean & Groundnut – GOI
• Spices – Govt. of MP & GOI
• Medicinal & Aromatics – GOI
• Mega Seed Project – ICAR
• Seed Legume Project – GOI
• Seed Village Project – ICAR
• Tribal Sub Plan – ICAR
• Scheduled Cast Sub Plan- ICAR
• RKVY- GOI
• Additional Breeder Seed Production of Pulses (ABSP)- GOI
• Additional Breeder Seed Production of Millets Crops- GOI

The University has been selected as one of the major participating institutions in the breeder seed production programme of GoI.

Ø  Seed Production Planning

Seed production programmes of all the crops are being planned based on indents of national and state seed corporation through ICAR, private seed sector, seed market intelligence reports and based on previous year sales and demands. The total indent of all the sectors put together is being planned on the basis of suitability of the selected varieties to different agro-climatic zones of MP. The entire production programme is being developed with the consent of officer-in-charge of farms and controlling officer at zonal level every year. The change in programme is permissible subject to the approval of Directorate of Farms. The programme includes :

Ø  Crop improvement

A dynamic seed sector can be developed with continuous release of improved varieties and hybrids from crop research programmes. To ensure the crop research programmes, strong support is provided from the State so that superior varieties and hybrids can be developed. Hence, due to continuous efforts every year a large number of varieties are released at State as well as at National level.

Ø  Seed production programme

Jawahar Seed is being produced from Breeder Seed in the area after the coverage of nucleus/breeder seed by employing standerd quality mechanism in the seed multiplication chain.

Ø  Seed extension activities

The surplus breeder/Jawahar seed of improved varieties of various crops is being made available to the farmers to create seed demands.

Ø  Seed distribution mechanisms

      The breeder seed produced is being supplied against the indents. The surplus breeder seed is being made available to indenters on first cum first served basis. Jawahar seed is being supplied directly to the farmers through seed counters of the university at a reasonable cost.

Ø  Maintenance Breeding

The maintenance breeding is one of the important activities of seed production programme of the University. The programme involves a dedicated team of crop scientists located at various research stations to maintain the varieties. Crop varieties are being maintained by Single Plant Selection (SPS) grown in progeny rows. The SPS bulk seed is multiplied to produce breeder seed depending up on the indents.

Maintenance Breeding of Kharif & Rabi crops