THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, June 29: The Vice Chancellor of Nilamber-Pitamber University, Dr. Prof. Dinesh Kumar Singh, has emphasised the urgent need for Jharkhand to establish its own State Seeds Corporation and a Seed Certification Facility, reducing its dependence on the National Seeds Corporation.
Speaking as the guest of honour at the 11th Foundation Day of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in Hazaribag on Saturday, Dr. Singh noted that self-reliance in seed production and certification is crucial for improving the state’s agricultural resilience and productivity.
Farmers’ Indigenous Practices Must Be Strengthened
Highlighting local knowledge systems, Dr. Singh acknowledged the efforts of Jharkhand’s farmers and vegetable growers in preserving seeds using traditional methods. However, he stressed that these practices require scientific support to enhance their effectiveness and scalability.
“Tomatoes, which are widely consumed here, are a good example—farmers preserve their seeds, yet there is no formal gene pool in the state. It’s high time we start building one,” he said.
Call for Accessible Soil Testing Facilities
Dr. Singh also advocated for the immediate establishment of basic soil testing laboratories across Jharkhand. “It doesn’t require high-end technology. These facilities can be started with modest infrastructure,” he said.
Soil testing, he explained, is vital for evaluating moisture levels, nutrient composition, pH balance, contaminants, and microbial activity, all of which directly influence crop quality and yield.
A Scholar Rooted in Agricultural Progress
Dr. Singh, who previously served as a senior professor at the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Uttarakhand, has long been an advocate for bridging traditional farming practices with modern agricultural science.
