Background: Fodder seed systems remain a critical yet neglected entry point for enhancing dairy productivity in South Asia. This study investigates the economic viability of fodder seed production, examines farmer seed replacement behaviour and identifies systemic constraints impeding dairy feed security in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. 
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Methods: A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 600 households from five districts (Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Varanasi, Jaunpur and Ballia) during agricultural years 2022-23 to 2024-25. The analytical framework integrated: (i) detailed cost and returns analysis to assess crop-wise profitability; (ii) estimation of crop-specific seed replacement rates (SRR) and (iii) Likert Scale technique for systematic constraint prioritization. 
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Results: Operational expenditures dominated the cultivation costs across all fodder crops, constituting 70.63 per cent for sorghum (₹ 23,180 ha-1), 66.75 per cent for pearl millet (₹ 18,720 ha-1), 73.45 per cent for maize (₹ 24,792 ha-1) and 76.12 per cent for berseem (₹ 29,056 ha-1). Seed cost emerged as the largest operational component in sorghum (15.92%) and maize (15.56%), while FYM and fertilizers dominated berseem (14.76%). Pearl millet recorded the highest benefit-cost ratio (1.76) with net income of ₹ 14,280 ha-1, followed by sorghum (1.38; ₹ 8,820 ha-1), berseem (1.34; ₹ 9,944 ha-1) and maize (1.30; ₹ 7,408 ha-1). Seed replacement rates ranged from 50.50 per cent (pearl millet) to 77.54 per cent (maize among marginal farmers), with larger farms paradoxically exhibiting greater informal seed dependence. Institutional and market failures constituted the predominant constraints: inadequate support for seed multiplication (mean 4.34), prohibitive certified seed costs (4.16), market uncertainty (3.98), counterfeit seed prevalence (3.86) and grazing damage (3.94) substantially outweighed technical barriers (3.06-3.23). Strengthening fodder seed systems requires decentralized production hubs with quality assurance, assured procurement linkages and targeted price rationalization to enhance adoption and livestock feed security.

Economic Performance and Seed Replacement Behaviour in Fodder Seed Systems in Eastern Uttar Pradesh: Implications for Dairy Feed Security

Background: Legumes are an excellent source of high-quality plant protein, contributing significantly to the nutritional stability and overall health of the vast majority of Indians who follow a vegetarian diet based on cereals. Pulses are food legumes, grown primarily for their dry edible seeds, which are rich in protein, fibre and essential amino acids and minerals. 
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Methods: The study was conducted from 2017 to 2025 on the Pulse seed hub project entitled &ldquo;Creation of seed hubs for increasing indigenous production of pulses in India&rdquo;, which was sanctioned to KVK, Banda in the year of 2016-17. A descriptive research design was employed in the present study. Data were collected and analysed from 49 selected farmers and from the seed hub to assess the impact of the pulse seed hub intervention on the socio-economic status of farmers and project viability. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The results revealed that a total of 2553.41 quintals seed of major six legume crops was produced during 2017-18 to 2024-25 including 863.45 q, 954.66 q, 534.79 q, 174.26 q, 22.63 q and 3.62 q seed of Chickpea, Field pea, Lentil, Pigeon pea, Green gram and Black gram, respectively by KVK, Banda. These high-quality legume seeds covered around 4707.68 hectares, making up 2.62% of the Banda district&rsquo;s total cropped area used for pulse agriculture. Based on farmers&rsquo; experience and desire in producing pulse seeds through buy-back agreements, seed production was undertaken on farmers&rsquo; fields in various villages of Banda district. Over the years (2017-18 to 2024-25), KVK, Banda has made INR 2.01 crores in gross revenue from its pulses seed production program. KVK, Banda has made INR 0.80 crores in net profit. The 49 farmers received INR 1.21 crores through the seed hub repurchase program, including an additional INR 20.23 lakhs from seed production.

Strengthening Seed System of Legumes: An Impact Assessment of Pulse Seed Hub Intervention on Seed Availability and Empowerment of Farmers

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Green fodder availability for livestock is decreasing because of climate change impacts on crop productivity and scarcity of land and water resources. Therefore, barley green fodder production in hydroponic systems could be an alternative to ensure sustainable green forage production for livestock. In spite having advantages such as high nutritional and economical values, marginal land use, providing natural feed for animals, and availability during all seasons of year, green fodder production in hydroponic system should be evaluated from energy, water productivity, and GHG emissions intensity point of view. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of barley cultivars and seed rates on the energy indices, GHG emissions intensity, and water productivity of barley green fodder production under hydroponic condition. Methods: This research was conducted in the form of a completely randomized experimental design with two factors, 12 treatments, and 12 replications. Barley cultivars of Raihan, Behrokh, EC and Fasih were main factors, and seed rates of 600, 700, and 800 g/tray were considered as subplots. Input and output energies, energy indices, fodder dry matter, water productivity, and GHG emissions intensity were determined in this study. Result: Results showed that barley cultivar and seed rate had significant effect on fodder dry matter, water productivity, and GHG emission intensity; while, energy indices were only affected by barley cultivars. Behrokh cultivar had the highest fodder dry matter, water productivity, energy indices, and the lowest GHG emission intensity. Seed rate of 800 g/tray provided the highest fodder dry matter, water productivity, and lowest GHG emission intensity. Therefore, Behrokh barley cultivar with seed rate of 800 g/tray was recommended for barley green fodder production in hydroponic systems in semi-arid climate condition of Iran.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Barley Cultivars and Seed Rates Effects on Energy and Water Productivity of Green Fodder Production under Hydroponic Condition</div>

<div>Background: The agricultural sector is highly dependent on the availability and quality of seeds for a productive harvest. The global demand for food and water is expected to increase due to population outgrowth, urbanization and climate change. Soilless farming may change the face of agriculture by providing a more sustainable and productive alternative to traditional cultivation and is being largely exploited for vegetable cultivation.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment consisted of 12 treatments. Two parental lines (P1: TAG 1 and P2: TAG 2) were subjected to seed treatment (S1: Untreated and S2: Thiram @ 2g kg-1 and chlorpyrifos @ 3g kg-1) and twenty-eight days old seedlings were transplanted to soil (M1: Conventional) and soilless systems (M2: Hydroponics and M3: Aeroponics). Hybrid seeds were produced in all the system were analysed for the quality and economics of seed production in soilless system was worked out. 
 
Result: The results revealed that there was a significant increase in test weight (0.39 g), average seed length (0.52 cm) in the soilless system due to the continuous availability of nutrients at controlled condition. Although the cost incurred was comparatively higher in the soilless method, the gross return was 94.68 per cent higher under aeroponics and 79.22 per cent higher under hydroponics compared to the conventional method. The benefit to cost ratio was found higher in aeroponics (2.08) followed by hydroponics (1.97) and lower under the conventional method (1.87). It is inferred that soilless agriculture could be a promising tool for quality and healthy hybrid tomato seed production throughout the year within protected cultivation.</div>

​Economics Analysis of Tomato Hybrid Seeds Produced through Soilless Systems

Background: Formal seed is the most critical input to enhance the productivity of fodder and green manure crops. Better accessibility of formal seeds of fodder and green manure can ensure twin effects- productivity and sustainability. The present study throws the light in respect of the supply-demand gap of formal seeds, causes and seed replacement rates of fodder and green manure crops.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study was based on a survey conducted on a well-structured schedule during 2022 and 2023. Three stages of random sampling were adopted to select the Blocks, Villages and farmers. One bock with 06 villages and 60 farmers (10 farmers from each village) was selected randomly from each district for the study. So that study was comprised of a total of 05 blocks, 30 Villages and 300 farmers. 
 
Result: The study found that there was a gap in the supply-demand of formal seeds of fodder and green manure crops. The study further reported an inverse relationship between farm size and use of the formal seeds for fodder and green manure crops. The seed replacement rate (SRR) was less for all categories of farms. Farm size is negatively associated with seed replacement rate. Low SRR signifying the need to strengthen the seed supply systems. It was further observed the seeds from the informal sector were given less preference by formers, in terms of quality, over to formal seeds provided by public and private sectors. Despite this, the reason for the gap was that the formal seeds belonging to the public sector were not available in proper time and quantity. The availability of seeds of desired varieties through the public sector was also an issue of concern. Whereas, access to formal seeds belonging to the private sector was limited due to higher prices in comparison to the farmers&rsquo; saved seeds and formal seeds of the public sector causing a supply-demand gap for the fodder and green manure crops.

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Supply-demand Gap of Formal Seeds for Fodder and Green Manure Crops in the Eastern Plain Zone of U.P.

Growth and development of huge livestock population of Kachchh is dependent on availability of quality fodder. The quality fodder shortage can be partially met out by cultivating grasses-legumes in intercropping systems. Therefore, this study with the aim of identifying best grass-legume intercropping system for enhanced quality fodder production was undertaken in randomized complete block design with three replications at Bhuj Gujarat, India. Dicanthium annulatum in combination of Clitoria ternatia and Stylosanthes hamata recorded 8096 and 8040 kg ha-1 fresh herbage and 4665 and 4622 kg ha-1 dry matter yield, respectively. Further, Dicanthium annulatum+Clitoria ternatia and Dicanthium annulatum+Stylosanthes hamata resulted significantly maximum crude protein yield, 685 and 668 kg ha-1, respectively over rest of the treatments. Thus, it may be concluded that &nbsp;Dicanthium annulatum (DA) grass based intercropping systems are the best grass-legume intercropping system for enhanced quality fodder production for the arid condition of the Kachchh for overall development of livestock sector.&nbsp;

Enhanced quality fodder production through grass-legume intercropping under arid eco-system of Kachchh, Gujarat

<div>Background: Long-term and stable livestock productivity could be possible only through a year-round supply of quality green fodder and it is essential for the sustainability of dairy farms. The year-round supply of quality green fodder is challenging to livestock farmers; however, it is possible by adopting perennial grass-legume intercropping systems.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment with eight treatments consisting of two perennial grasses (Napier- bajra hybrid grass and guinea grass) alone or in combination with three fodder legumes (Lucerne, Hedge Lucerne and Sesbania) was conducted for 3 years (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19) in a sandy loam soil at the Agricultural Research Institute, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad. The treatments were replicated thrice in a randomized block design. Perennial grasses were raised in paired row method (row to row 120cm and plant to plant 60 cm. The legume intercrops were grown with their respective spacing within 120 cm row. Sesbania inter crop was allowed to grow for 6 months and later trimmed to a height of 1 meter in the establishment year. Growth parameters were measured only for grasses at each harvesting and green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields were recorded for both grasses and legumes at each cut and accumulated annually (total 6 cuts/year) for statistical analyses.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results indicated that among the grasses, Napier-bajra hybrid recorded significantly higher green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields; in case of leguminous inter crops, Sesbania recorded highest green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields followed by Hedge Lucerne. About total productivity of the system, Napier-bajra hybrid + Sesbania (2:1) cropping system recorded highest green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields. Highest net returns and B:C ratio was also noted with Napier bajra hybrid +Sesbania (2:1) cropping system and proved to be the best perennial fodder system for year-round supply fodder to the livestock.</div>

Evaluation of Perennial Grass-legume Cropping Systems for Year-round Supply of Fodder for Dairy Farms

Background: This study aimed to determine the direct and indirect effects of various agronomic traits on seed yield in common bean under contrasting conventional and organic cultivation systems using path coefficient analysis. Field experiments were conducted in 2021 at the research and trial area of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University. 
 
Methods: Common bean genotypes were grown under conventional and organic management systems using, a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Seed yield (SY) and ten related traits-emergence time (ET), plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), first pod height (FPH), pod length (PL), pod width (PW), pods per plant (PPP), seeds per pod (SPP), 100-seed weight (HSW) and biomass yield (BY)-were measured. 
 
Result: Correlation coefficients were calculated and path analysis was performed separately for each system to partition correlations into direct and indirect effects on seed yield. Correlation analysis revealed differing significant associations between traits under the two systems. Path analysis identified distinct pathways influencing seed yield. In the conventional system, Emergence Time (ET) exhibited the largest positive direct effect (P=1.143) on seed yield, indicating the importance of rapid establishment. However, Pods per Plant (PPP) showed a strong negative direct effect (P=-1.359), while 100-Seed Weight (HSW) also had a notable negative direct effect (P=-0.337). In contrast, under the organic system, Pods per Plant (PPP) exerted the strongest positive direct effect (P=0.567) on seed yield, followed by biomass yield (BY) (P=0.428) and emergence time (ET) (P=0.473). First pod height (FPH) showed the most substantial negative direct effect (P=-0.487) in the organic system. The influence of PPP on seed yield was notably contrasting, shifting from strongly negative under conventional management to strongly positive under organic conditions. The study highlights that the mechanisms determining seed yield in common bean differ significantly between conventional and organic systems. While rapid emergence was paramount in the conventional system, maximizing pods per plant was the key driver under organic conditions, alongside biomass accumulation. These system-specific yield determination pathways suggest that breeding programs and agronomic management strategies should be tailored to the target cultivation environment (conventional or organic) to optimize common bean seed yield.

System-specific Determinants of Seed Yield in Common Bean: Insights from Conventional and Organic Path Analyses

<div>Background:&nbsp;Seed priming technique involves soaking of seeds in priming agent to a point where germination related metabolic activities occur in the seeds followed by drying of imbibed seeds to original moisture to prevent the radical protrusion and facilitate storage of primed seed. Draining of priming agent and drying of large quantity of primed seeds is a laborious and time consuming process. The current study was aimed to standardize automation of seed priming process by utilizing house-hold top loading washing machine. 
 
Methods: The top loading washing machine referred to as Seed Priming Cabinet, contained a priming drum with provision for draining water. On completion of the soaking period, the &lsquo;SPIN&rsquo; button was pressed by setting the duration of spin drying (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min.). Then the seeds were removed from the drum of priming cabinet and subjected to shade drying so as to reach the original moisture content and evaluated for seed quality parameters.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The blackgram seed subjected to conventional hydropriming was compared with automatic seed priming for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min. and observed that hydropriming and spin drying for 3 min. was found to be optimum and the per cent increase in germination recorded over control was 18.0 per cent thus suggesting that automation of seed priming technology can be recommended for enhanced seed vigour and crop productivity of blackgram.</div>

Automation of Seed Priming Technology for Enhanced Seed Vigour of Blackgram Seeds

<div>The official system of release of crop varieties in India has been in operation for more than six decades since October 1964. The Central Government decided to legalize this system and regulate the quality of seeds of varieties and enacted the Seeds Act on December 29, 1966. The Act came in to force in whole of India and State of Sikkim with effect from September 2, 1968 and May 8, 1987, respectively and October 1, 1969 only for certain provisions of some sections. The first Central Seed Committee and Seed Rules were formed in 1968. The Seeds Act, 1966 was amended in 1972 resulting in to the creation of first Central Seed Certification Board in 1984. The first set of 56 varieties was notified with effect from October 1, 1969 as per section 5 of the Seeds Act, 1966; for specific state/s and for 15 years, but, the bar of 15 years for notification of varieties was removed in 2006 since the notification of May 15, 1990. A total of 7326 high yielding varieties/hybrids having tolerance of biotic and abiotic stresses and enhanced nutritional quality of 96 field crops have been released and notified till 2024. Among them, 242 varieties were de-notified until cut-off notification of May 15, 1990. Another land mark policy decision during the last six decades was enforcement of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers&rsquo; Rights Act, 2001 and Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers&rsquo; Rights Rules, 2003 for protecting the rights of var ious stakeholders such as plant breeders, researchers and farmers initiating an era of Intellectual Property Rights in Agriculture and registration of 9210 varieties. The Central Government initiated regulating the price of Bt cotton since 2016-17. The future-regulating system of variety release and notification and seed quality through any legislation should address various issues like the plant variety protection regime including benefit sharing, development of varieties by utilizing new emerging technologies such as gene-editing, biotech crops and harmonizing Indian and international seed production/certification standards to cater the need of Indian farmers and also promote seed export.</div>