Chandigarh, October 23: In an innovative initiative aimed at providing quality seeds to farmers, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Wednesday launched a QR Code system, which will help in eliminating the market for spurious seeds and ensuring the integrity of the seed supply chain. This move will help the state farmers to easily determine the quality, source, and certification of the seeds; consequently, they will receive only the best agricultural inputs.

system will provide a robust quality assurance mechanism

After launching the QR Code system, Gurmeet Singh Khudian stated that it will not only ensure robust quality assurance but also trace the seed source throughout production. Moreover, farmers can easily access seed details by simply scanning the QR code on the bags.

In addition, he emphasised that scanning enables users to verify seeds and view comprehensive information about producers, including inspection reports and lab test results. Furthermore, he noted that licensed dealers will sell seeds with valid certification, thereby ensuring the integrity of the supply chain.

QR Code System Designed to Address Seed Production Issues

Khudian stated that Punjab is an agrarian state and the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is working hard to address the challenges and difficulties faced by the agriculture sector. This QR Code system specifically tackles issues related to seed production, quality seed identification, and seed certification.

State Seed Certification Authority First in India to Implement SATHI

Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Anurag Verma informed the Agriculture Minister that the Punjab State Seed Certification Authority is the first organization in the country to implement the SATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication, and Holistic Inventory) portal, which launched in Punjab on January 17, 2023. The online “SATHI” portal registers all seeds produced in the state, managing all processes from inspection to packing through this system.

The team has updated the portal with three testing labs.

He added that the Punjab State Seed Certification Authority is registering the seventh season of seed-producing crops online, now listing 10,669 seed growers, 360 agencies, 341 processing plants, and three testing labs.