Date:27/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/27/stories/2008122753650300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Agricultural University starts new consortium

Staff Reporter

FOR QUALITY SEEDS: Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University C. Ramasamy (right) addressing a consortium on private seed sector research and technology at the university in Coimbatore.

COIMBATORE: The “Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)-Private Seed Sector Research and Technology Consortium” was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor C. Ramasamy here recently.

Tie-up

According to a release, inaugurating the 12-member consortium, Mr. Ramasamy said there was a need for a close tie-up between public and private seed industries for producing quality seed materials of TNAU released varieties / hybrids since the public seed industries by themselves were not able to meet the demand for quality seed materials. He assured that there was a dire necessity to increase the supply of quality certified seeds so that Seed Replacement Rate was increased to higher levels to ensure growth in national agricultural productivity.