Seed Certification Agency of Agriculture Department organizes Training Programme on SATHI Portal of Government of India

JAMMU, October 20: The Divisional Seed Certification Agency, Directorate of Agriculture, Jammu organized a training programme on online Seed Traceability Authentication and Holistic Inventory (SATHI) Portal of Government of India at Baba Jitto Kissan Kendra, Talab Tillo, Jammu.

During the training programme it was highlighted that, UT Govt of Jammu & Kashmir has implemented Seed Certification and distribution initiative of Govt. of India to ensure more transparency in production and distribution chain of quality seed through online mode.

With this initiative certified seed producers will be able to promote their quality seed on digital platform which will help the Govt/ farmers to track the availability of quality seed and ensure distribution as per the area specific demand of farmers in rational manner timely to benefit the farmers.

This initiative of government will motivate the educated youth to establish themselves as entrepreneurs in the field of certified seed production, which may ultimately help in employment generation. This will further cater to the quality seed requirement of farmers, enhance seed replacement ratio (SRR), increase production and keep check on seed prices by preventing illegal hoarding of seed.

Under the supervision of Dr. Arvinder Singh Reen, Joint Director Agriculture (Inputs), Jammu the training was imparted by distinguished resource persons namely Mr. Deepak Nayak & Aditiya Sahoo from National Informatics Centre Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

The representatives of Certified Seed Producing Agencies such as, Joint Director Agriculture SLUB I/c Farms, Jammu, Joint Director Agriculture Inputs, Jammu, Nodal Officer Mega Seed project SKUAST of National Seed Corporation Kathua Jammu, Indo Agri Overseas, Samba and Seed Certification Agency, Jammu, Seed Analyst, Jammu etc participated in the training.

The Divisional Seed Certification Officer Jammu  Prem Singh highlighted that during the current Kharif season four number certified seed producing agencies have registered 612.19 hectare area under various seed crops on SATHI portal, covering 147 farmers besides Govt. farms and the inspection of the same is going on through online mode.

He expressed that with the guidance of higher authorities of the department, required infrastructure will be created for printing of universal Seed Tags digitally to make online certification successful endeavor.

The programme was co-ordinated by Dr. R.K. Hiteshi Joint Director Agriculture (Extn.) Jammu, and Dr. Rajiv Katoch Programme Officer, Jammu Division conducted the proceedings on the programme.