How Telangana State Agricultural University leveraged TraceX Seed Traceability to Improve the Authenticity of Seeds

TraceX successfully piloted the Seed Supply Chain traceability with Blockchain for the Telangana government in collaboration with PJTSAU. The enthusiasm, drive, and receptiveness of TraceX helped them to scale up their reach to statewide Seed traceability in Telangana, truly a proud and satisfying moment for us. 

The agricultural sector is considered the backbone of India. A majority of our population is dependent on agriculture, directly or indirectly, for their livelihood, food, fodder, and fuel.  

One of the significant hurdles that repeatedly plague this sector is the quality of seeds reaching farmers. A seed is a primary input for agriculture and bears the responsibility for crop production, quality, and contribution of all other inputs. It is the fundamental block of agriculture.  

The seed cycle begins with the Nucleus Seed, which is genetically pure and used for monitoring performance. Breeder Seeds are then produced under strict supervision to maintain genetic purity. These seeds give rise to Foundation Seeds, which are further distributed by seed corporations to meet local demands. Finally, Certified Seeds, approved by certification agencies, are provided to farmers for cultivation. Throughout this cycle, ICAR oversees food safety and coordinates seed production to meet population needs. 

According to ICAR, Indian domestic seed market accounts for 2 billion USD out of 45 billion USD international seed market. It is estimated that the direct contribution of quality seed alone has a positive impact on overall production by approximately 15-20%.  

However, the circulation of poor quality and spurious seeds is rampant in India. 

PJTSAU, along with agricultural scientists, collaborates closely with startups to develop a pilot program focused on digital technology applications in agriculture. Under the aegis of ‘Prof. Jaishankar Telangana State Agricultural university’ (PJTSAU) SRTC undertakes seed research from ‘Foundation Seeds’ to ‘Breeder Seeds’ for various crops like paddy, red gram and green gram. 

PJTSAU developed Telangana Sona, a robust hybrid rice strain known for its superior quality, high yield, and shortened growth cycle of 120 days compared to the usual 150-160 days. Initially cultivated and sold to farmers by the university, its popularity surged among consumers, leading to a sharp increase in demand. However, the rapid demand growth prompted several private vendors to sell rice seeds under the Telangana Sona name without any verification or traceability, capitalizing on the variety’s reputation for quick profits.