Chitwan, January 23

Agriculture and Forest University Rampur, Chitwan recently set up a seed processing centre and seed examination laboratory.

National Planning Commission member Prof Gitabhakta Joshi inaugurated the unit today.

The centre was established at a cost of Rs 10 million to make seed management sustainable, effective, and qualitative.

The centre was established with financial support from Bill and Melinda Foundation. It will be managed by Sathguru Management Consultant Hyderabad.

Coordinator of the project Prof Sharada Thapaliya said that the centre aims to benefit farmers by producing, processing, and distributing quality seeds.

According to Deputy Coordinator of the project Udit Prakash Sigdel, the quality of maize, wheat, and paddy seeds will be determined through a pre-cleaner, a final cleaner, and a gravity separator.

The university has already provided training to more than 100 farmers from skilled technicians in quality seed production. The varsity’s Registrar Manraj Kolakshapati said that the university was planning to cater training to an additional 200 farmers.

After the processing of seeds, they will be tested at the laboratory. Following examination at the laboratory, the seeds will be packaged with a logo before they are sent to farmers.

The centre is expected to benefit many farmers in Chitwan and its surrounding areas.

Prof  Thapaliya said that they were planning to operate the centre as an autonomous body.

Inaugurating the centre, Prof Joshi asked local farmers to lend helping hands for the centre’s longevity.

At the programme, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture Suraj Pokhrel said that the seed centre would play an important role in the development of the agriculture sector.