With reference to study conducted in the Gujarat, India.

This handbook covers a whole range of issues relating to local seed supply systems, including participatory plant breeding, and both technical and practical information on seed production and variety maintenance. It suggests new approaches and methods to support on-farm seed production by small-scale farmers in developing countries. The first part of the book describes the functioning of local seed systems and discusses their strengths, limitations and possibilities for improvement. The authors discuss in detail issues of genetic diversity and in-situ conservation, farmers' rights and legislation. The cases presented here illustrate the functioning of local seed systems and experiences with improving them. The second part contains technical information on seed production, selection, storage and distribution, and varietal maintenance and improvement of different groups of important food crops, which can be applied and implemented at the level of small-scale farming. The third part contains practical guidelines about how on researchers and agriculturalists might carry out surveys to investigate local seed systems and their limitations, and how they can involve interested farmers in practical experimentation to improve their crop seed. This book will be of great value and interest to people who work directly with farmers, including extension agents, national and international NGOs, and farmers' cooperative workers.

Genetically engineered (GE) crops were first introduced commercially in the 1990s. After two decades of production, some groups and individuals remain critical of the technology based on their concerns about possible adverse effects on human health, the environment, and ethical considerations. At the same time, others are concerned that the technology is not reaching its potential to improve human health and the environment because of stringent regulations and reduced public funding to develop products offering more benefits to society. While the debate about these and other questions related to the genetic engineering techniques of the first 20 years goes on, emerging genetic-engineering technologies are adding new complexities to the conversation. Genetically Engineered Crops builds on previous related Academies reports published between 1987 and 2010 by undertaking a retrospective examination of the purported positive and adverse effects of GE crops and to anticipate what emerging genetic-engineering technologies hold for the future. This report indicates where there are uncertainties about the economic, agronomic, health, safety, or other impacts of GE crops and food, and makes recommendations to fill gaps in safety assessments, increase regulatory clarity, and improve innovations in and access to GE technology.

Authentic and authoritative, this presentation shares a comprehensive overview of the extensive research undertaken by the Agro Economic Research Centers (AERCs) and the concerns confronting Indian agriculture. Established across the states in India to provide policy feedback to the Ministry of Agriculture, the AERCs generated many important research initiatives and debates over five decades. This second volume focuses on the problems confronted at the regional level by each of the participating states.

Seed Quality: Basic Mechanisms and Agricultural Implications focuses on various aspects of seed quality and integrates research at basic and applied levels, supporting high-quality seeds as the basis of higher agricultural productivity. With its clear perspective and interdisciplinary focus on basic and applied aspects of seed quality, this book is immensely useful to students and teachers in many agricultural and botanical disciplines.Because seed quality is a critical component in the economic considerations of the farmer and the seedman alike, Basra looks in-depth at these aspects of seed production:seed viabilityseed healthseed vigorseed testingvariety identificationcrop yieldseed storageseed productionseed deteriorationseed treatmentsSeed quality is of international agronomic concern, and the recent upsurge of interest in seed quality has accentuated a new awareness regarding its importance in crop production. This book meets the need for information and could form the basis of long-range planning by policymakers on quality assurance and management programs and in the facilitation of international trade. Researchers, students, and teachers in many agricultural and botanical disciplines--seed science and technology in particular--will find this book to be of immense use. It can be used as a handbook for those involved in seed industry and seed testing services. It is recommended for international courses in seed science and technology and seed training programs.