Farmers can check seed quality using QR code: Tomar at launch of SATHI portal

Farmers in the country can check the quality of seeds by using QR code, thanks to ‘SATHI’ portal which will ensure a quality assurance system and identify the source of seed in the seed production chain.

The SATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication and Holistic Inventory) portal was launched in New Delhi on Wednesday by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who said the Government is constantly trying to overcome the challenges and difficulties faced by the agriculture sector through various schemes and programmes.

Singh said this while launching the Portal and Mobile App, a Centralised Online System for seed traceability, authentication and inventory designed to deal with the challenges of seed production, quality seed identification and seed certification.

The portal has been developed by the NIC in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on the theme of ‘Uttam Beej – Samriddh Kisan’.

When its use starts right at the grassroots level, it will prove to be a revolutionary step in the field of agriculture, Tomar said, noting that the SATHI portal is an important step in this direction.

Stating that the importance of agriculture has increased in the changing scenario, the minister said earlier his only aim was fulfilling domestic needs in agriculture, but at present the expectations of the world are increasing from India.

"In such a situation, it is our responsibility to help feed the world while dealing with all the challenges of agriculture, climate change etc," Tomar said, adding that seeds, pesticides, fertilisers and irrigation play a major role in farming.

Inferior quality or spurious seeds affect the growth of agriculture. This causes loss to the farmers and impacts the agricultural production of the country.

"It has been said from time to time that we should devise such a system so that the market of spurious seeds is checked and quality seeds reach the farmers, for this the SATHI portal has been launched today," he said.

In this era of climate change, new types of pests are affecting crops, he said, asking agricultural scientists to focus their research to eradicate the menace. If we are able to save this loss, then we can save 20 per cent of the entire agricultural production, he opined.

Tomar said that the first phase of the SATHI portal has just been launched and directed officials to ensure that the second phase does not take long. Efforts should be made to increase awareness so that farmers get full benefit. It will have a QR code through which the seeds can be traced, an official release said.

SATHI portal will ensure quality assurance system, identify the source of seed in the seed production chain. The system will consist of integrated 7 verticals of the seed chain - Research Organisation, Seed Certification, Seed Licensing, Seed Catalogue, Dealer to Farmer Sales, Farmer Registration and Seed DBT. Seeds with valid certification can only be sold by valid licensed dealers to centrally registered farmers who will receive subsidy through DBT directly into their pre-validated bank accounts.