BHUTAN NATIONAL SEED PROGRAM

Suraj Chhetri School of Crop Production Technology.

Suranaree University of Technology

INTRODUCTION TO BHUTAN

INTRODUCTION TO BHUTANBhutan,the “ Land of the Thunder Dragon” is derived from the sanskrit word

Bhu-Uttham.

It is a landlocked nation, bordered to the south, east and west by India and to the north by the People’s Republic of China.

Bhutan is one of the main tourist attraction places in the world due to its’ rich cultural heritage, traditions, and natural environment.

It’s main source of income is tourism, hydropower, forestry and industry.

Export commodities are electricity, cardamom (Krawan), gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cements, fruits, precious stones and spices.

Export partners are India 58.6%, Hong kong 30.1%, Bangladesh 7.3% (2007)

Import commodities are fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery, vehicles and electronics.

Import partners are India 74.5%, Japan 7.4%, Sweden 3.2% (2007)

INTRODUCTION TO BHUTAN

Area- 38,364 Sq km

Population- 672, 425

Province- 20

Climate- Spring (Feb-April)Summer (May-June)Monsoon (July-Sept)Winter (Oct- Jan)

- Southern

- Western

- Central

- Eastern

- Northern

INTRODUCTION TO BHUTAN

Tourist attraction locations

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE IN BHUTAN

Agriculture is one of the main backbones of Bhutan’s economy development.

One of the main policy of “GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS” is food self sufficiency.

66% people are engaged in agriculture and annual agriculture growth rate is 2.8%.

The GDP contribution by agriculture is 22.3%.

Mechanized farming is not possible due its mountainous topography.

Farmers use mini tractor and bullocks for ploughing the field.

Major agriculture products are rice, corn, root crops, food grains, citrus, apple, mango and dairy products.

Aerial view of Agriculture land

INTRODUCTION

Land utilization in Bhutan

INTRODUCTION Planting area of the major crops

500,000Rai 85,000 50,000 44,000

INTRODUCTION

Organized program started by DoA, Under NASEPP (National Seed and Plant production program) in 1984 (25 years ago).

NASEPP – Sole supplier up to late 1995.

Private sector seed companies like Druk Seed Corporation involved in production and supply from 1995.

Government introduce National Seed Policy in 1997.

NATIONAL SEED PROGRAM

INTRODUCTION

MoA, Organogram

OBJECTIVE

Assure timely availability of quality seed at affordable

price

To breed, develop, and maintain crop varieties resistant to diseases, pests and environmental stresses.

To ensure/facilitate multiplication and distribution of sufficient quantities of quality seed of superior varieties.

To monitor, control and regulate the quality of seeds.

To encourage the participation of private entrepreneurs and farmers‘ organizations in the seed industry.

To promote farmers' acceptance and use of seeds of improved varieties.

Overall objective

Specific objective

SEED MULTIPLICATION PROGRAM

Parental material

Breeders’ Seed

Foundation Seed

Registered Seed

Certified Seed (I & II)

Responsibility of RNR research center under Council of RNR Research, MoA

Seed production farms of Druk Seed Corporation

Seed production through contract seed growers (DSC)

Seed production through farmers’ cooperatives (DoA)

Locations of Breeder seed production of RNR Centers

Vegetable seeds

Field crops

Oil seeds and pulses

6 research farms are utilized for breeder seed production of vegetable, field crops and oil seed and pulses.

Locations of foundation and registered seed production of DSC and farmers’ cooperatives of DoA

Foundation seed production of field crops, oil seed and pulses and vegetable seeds in DSC farm (4 farms)

Registered seed production by contract seed growers (DSC).

Farmers’ cooperative, DoA.

ANNUAL SEED PRODUCTION AT FARMS AND CSG

ANNUAL SEED REQUIREMENT AND PRODUCTION

QUALITY CONTROL

Field control

Lab test & processing control

Seed storage control

Field Control

Germination stage

Flowering stage 1

Flowering stage 2

Flowering stage 3

Seed sample collection

BAFRA DSC

Accept/Reject plot

Check off-type, inform about roughing

Check off-type, inform about roughing, mark

the fieldAccept roughed field,

reject field with mixture

Check moisture, sample collection for

Lab test.

QUALITY CONTROL STEPS

In-house Quality Control

Lab testProcessing

Control

Moisture content

Purity test

Inert matter

Cleaning seed processing hall

Cleaning seed processing machineCheck the function of all machine Before start of processing

QUALITY CONTROL STEPS

Seed Storage Control

Clean the seed storage room.

Fumigate the storage chamber.

Check the temperature and relative humidity.

Proper leveling of the seed lot.

SEED MARKETING

Druk Seed CorpContract

Seed growers

Farmers cooperative

Domestic sale Export sale

Farmers

Institution

Public

India (potatoes, maize, Radish seed)

Bangladesh (radish seed)

SEED MARKETING

SEED MARKETING

CONTRACT SEED PRODUCTION PROCEDURE

Selection of growers and basic training (formal agreement)

Issuing of registered/certified seed on payment

Registration of seed crops for certification by BAFRA.

Training ( jointly by Druk seed and extention staff).

Field visit for quality control

Issuing of new bags by regional Druk seed office.

Sampling of seed lots at growers places.

The samples checked for purity, moisture content and germination test.

Based on the lab result the seed lot are accepted or rejected.

The accepted seed lots are transported to Druk seed farms for processing.

Payment to seed growers.

Labeling and sealing of accepted seed lots, lot release (distribution /sale/storage).

Reliability, knowledge, resourcefulness, willing to cooperate.

Adequate land area paddy - 1 ac. (0.4 ha) veg - 0.23 ac.

Accessibility

Enough manpower for working

Selection Criteria of Contract Seed Growers

CONTRACT SEED PRODUCTION PROCEDURE

CONTRACT SEED GROWERS

Difficulty in finding suitable/reliable growers.

Seed quality related problems.

Lack of manpower.

Tendency of growers to keep some seed with them (potato).

Problems

CONCLUSION

There is a great potential for seed production in Bhutan due to its suitable and clean environment.

About 66% people are engage in agriculture related work. Seed production for them would be a direct income generating scheme.

More seed production should be concentrated on high value low volume crop for sustainability of a seed company.

Since the domestic market is small, export partners should be explored for sustainability and profiteering venture.

FUTURE RECOMMENDATION

Promote private seed company/farmers’ cooperative.

Improve seed quality.

Train people in seed production.

Promote more sales outlet in all province within country.

Create awareness in the benefit of seed replacement.

Promote joint venture with other seed companies outside Bhutan for knowledge sharing, training and seed production undertaking.

REFERENCES

CIA. 2008. The world fact book.

National Census Bhutan. 2005.

National Seed Program. 2001. Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan.

RNR Statistics. 2006. MoA, Bhutan.

Thank you