OBJECTS OF THE SUVIDHA

Overall Objective

The overall objective of the SUVIDHA is to promote the welfare of the agricultural and rural communities in the country, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, through adoption of a multi-dimensional and holistic approach to agriculture and rural development, making agriculture sustainable and viable.

SUVIDHA would endeavour to continuously enhance the capabilities of farmers to face the growing challenges in the fast changing external environment, and protect the farmers’ interests and livelihood by :

  1. Developing in the farmers a global outlook
  2. Exposing them to the current and emerging international agricultural scenario particularly in respect of technology and marketing
  3. Highlighting their present inadequacies in producing and marketing of their products
  4. Bringing the technological developments within the reach of farmers, particularly the small and marginal farmers so as to enhance their productivity and
  5. Advising, training and developing them so as to enable them to adopt the best and the most appropriate agricultural practices to face international competition effectively and competently.



First Priority: Within the overall objective, SUVIDHA would first take up on a priority basis, the critical issue of availability of quality seeds for cereals, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables, flowers, fibres and fodders, to farmers in the chosen regions of Andhra Pradesh so as to raise their income levels.

Other Issues: In course of time, after interaction with the farmers in the selected regions, due deliberation with and advice of agricultural experts, SUVIDHA would take up other specific agricultural problems affecting the productivity and gains from agricultural operations.

Providing High Quality Genuine Seeds

Critical Input: Seeds are a critical input for agricultural production and productivity of farms. SUVIDHA shall continue the spirit of India’s Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, ensuring adequate availability of quality and high yielding varieties of seeds to the farmers of the State in particular and the country in general, , maintaining the generation of seed chain from Breeder Seed to Certified Seed, following all the practices and stipulated norms envisaged under Minimum Seed Certification Standards.

Other Inputs: In addition to quality seeds, SUVIDHA shall endeavor to provide other agricultural inputs which influence agricultural production and productivity of farms like water, fertilizers, chemicals, pesticides, growth regulators, and micronutrients besides adoption of the best agricultural practices.

Farmers’ Losses: SUVIDHA shall educate and ensure that the Farmers do not lose crop production and income as a result of using spurious seeds supplied by unscrupulous seed producers/dealers and that the farmers apply other inputs appropriately, to avoid crop failures, and keep the farmers away from debts, frustration and desperation

Guidance to Farmers: SUVIDHA shall provide the Farmers the required field-based guidance, training and advice on how to procure the right kinds of seeds for their different crops based on the agro-climatic conditions in the region, use of other agricultural inputs and appropriate best agricultural practices. Also advise on forecasting market trends, selection of crops to be grown, current and anticipated selling prices, market arrivals, storage and post harvest management practices.

Biotechnology in Seeds Production: SUVIDHA shall educate the farmers about Genetically Modified Seeds developed by application of biotechnology, highlighting the fact that the seeds developed through bio-technology have better insect-pest resistance; tolerance to drought, cold and salinity conditions; enhanced nutrition; post harvest quality and high value addition.

Specific Objectives
To facilitate formulation of appropriate strategies and action programmes for tackling the farmer/seed issues highlighted earlier, and to periodically evaluate the progress made, SUVIDHA sets for itself the following specific objectives:

  1. Lay down criteria for selection of areas where SUVIDHA’s Programmes are to be implemented in phases
  2. Specify the basis on which individual farmers are to be selected and the number of farmers to be covered
  3. Ascertain from the selected farmers the crops they intend to sow/plant, and evaluate jointly with them the criteria adopted for such crop selection; suggest alternative crops if considered desirable, giving the reasons therefor.
  4. Prepare a “List of Most Suitable Crops” based on agro-climatic conditions of the selected regions, for the benefit of the farmers in the area.
  5. Decide on how to obtain and disseminate relevant crop information before the farmer selects the crops to be sown or planted.
  6. Interact with the selected farmers and identify their seed related problems and any other issues confronting them.
  7. Explain to the farmers about how to select and procure seeds, the point of purchase, brand names, certified seeds, labeled seeds, hybrids, and GM Seeds, to improve their knowledge and confidence levels.
  8. Brief the selected farmers on the global scenario of crops relevant to them, technology/marketing issues, and about the best agricultural practices appropriate to the crops to be sown/planted. Also highlight the deficiencies of the production/marketing methods currently used by the selected farmers.
  9. Advise the selected farmers on the correct methods to be used in crop production and marketing, giving them required demonstrations and training
  10. Decide which of the seeds required by the selected farmers should be produced by in-house and which have to be procured from outside seed producers/dealers
  11. Assess the requirements of the other major inputs, like fertilizers, pesticides, jointly with the farmers and decide if the Trust would like to take up distribution of any such major inputs
  12. Enter into agreements with producers/distributors for supply of those inputs which SUVIDHA intends to procure from the market in bulk and supply to individual farmers duly ensuring their quality
  13. Organize training programmes for the selected farmers on how to produce, process and store quality seeds. This should include various seed production techniques and post harvest technologies.
  14. Make arrangements for producing and certifying seeds which SUVIDHA has decided to supply on its own to the selected farmers in the area.
  15. Adopt the “Seed Village Concept” of participatory seed production, associating the farmers in the process of producing quality seeds, so that they get first-hand knowledge and hands-on experience of seed production methods.
  16. Procure, test and supply seeds which the Trust decides to obtain from outside seed producers for supply to the selected farmers, giving third party guarantee about the quality of the seeds
  17. Fix the prices of the seeds produced in-house by SUVIDHA at levels lower than the prevailing market prices so that the farmers can afford to purchase them without any hardship
  18. Estimate demand for different seeds of farmers in the selected areas, evaluate their availability in the market, and create a Seed Bank for seeds considered to be critical and are likely to be in short supply.
  19. Obtain accreditation as a Notified Autonomous Seed Certification Agency for certifying all varieties of seeds. Establish or take on lease necessary infrastructure for the purpose including farms, poly-houses, isolation chambers, laboratories, testing equipment and specialty cold rooms.
  20. Initially take up certification of seeds for registered non-notified varieties (popular varieties of public/private sector seed producers) as per National Seed Certification Standards, to be supplied to farmers in the selected regions by providing third party guarantee.
  21. Campaign for the judicious licensing of GM Crops and facilitate the availability of GM crop technologies to the farmers on easy terms.
  22. Conduct seminars meetings, training programmes, make educational videos/films and run a Community Radio for the dissemination of useful information and knowledge for the benefit of the farming communities in the selected regions.
  23. Work for protection of the environment, promotion of organic agriculture, preservation of genetic diversity, health and ecologically sensitive practices including use of bio-fuels.
  24. Facilitate application of ICT (Information and communication technology) in agriculture
  25. Interact with State/National Seed Producers’ Associations and take their help for the benefit of farmers in the region.