Quality Seeds for Higher Harvest
Quality of seeds is an important consideration as far as farming systems and practices go. A seed represents the growth of life. Indeed, a seed is a primary input in crop production and is a means of providing. As any farmer would attest, the quality of seeds used determines the potential harvest from your farm. If you get it wrong during planting, you will likely not have it right during harvesting. Therefore, to get good quality produce from your farm, it is essential to get good quality and trusted seeds from reliable suppliers. As many soil scientists attest, modern varieties and seed technologies have significantly transformed agriculture. Availability, access, and use of quality seeds, as well as adaptable crop varieties, is critical to realizing increased agricultural production.
Kenya’s seed industry
In Kenya, it has been known for a long time that Kenya’s agricultural productivity is below the potential productivity the country could achieve. A significant contributor to low productivity has been the quality of seeds that farmers are planting and using. Available seeds do not contain the required germplasm, which is needed to improve the quality of seeds. Indeed, Kenya’s seed industry does not embody.
Different Types of Seed Quality.
Genetic quality. This entails the inherent genetic qualities for better yields, better grain quality, and increased tolerance to pests and diseases. For instance, when looking at lentil seeds, there are two types of lentil seeds: red lentil, and green lentils. Genetic purity is crucial for improving grain quality, and subsequently, its market value. Thereby, by mixing lentil grains with other grains may reduce grain quality, and consequently, its market value. For such grains, the best activity would be to maintain seed purity.
Physiological quality. This is simply the potential germination and vigour, which leads to subsequent seedling growth, and the growth of crops in the field. Good physiological quality means that the seed can germinate adequately, and grow healthy seedlings in the right conditions. Seeds of good quality often have an excellent physiological variety and can germinate and grow properly in normal conditions.
Physical quality. Physical quality refers to seeds which are free from contamination by other seedlings, and food crops, parasites, discolouration, and the seeds are of uniform size and weight. Seeds of good physical quality are more likely to yield better harvests compared to those who are not.
Health quality. Health quality refers to the aspects of seeds which entail the absence of infections, infestations with pests and other diseases, as well as an excellent aesthetic appearance — seeds of good health quality product quality, nutritious, and yields of the right size and weight.
Factors affecting Seed Quality
The production environment is a significant factor affecting seed quality. For instance, climatic conditions can have a substantial effect on the quality of seeds, especially during pre-harvest seasons. During harvest periods, for example, excessive rains can tamper with the maturity of the seeds, which is likely to affect the quality of seeds subsequently. High rainfall is also expected to increase vegetative growth, thus reducing crop yields, and this will eventually decrease seed quality. Other weather conditions such as humidity can have the same effect on the quality of returns, and seed quality. Depending on the type of seed you are using, you should be careful as a farmer, and identify the specific climatic conditions which can have an impact on the quality of your seeds. Practising controlled-temperature farming techniques, such as using greenhouses to grow your crops, is one of the most effective ways of reducing the impact of climatic conditions on your seeds. For instance, lentil seeds are more sensitive to heat and drought, and therefore exposure to these conditions can reduce yields and seed quality.
Harvesting period is another understated factor which affects seed quality. When crops are not harvested for long periods, even after ripening, it subjects the seed to deteriorative conditions, and this causes more significant loss of seed quality. Moreover, delaying harvests also leads to over-maturing of the seeds, especially in terms of high heat and drought, and this may reduce seed quality excessively.
Mechanical damage is another considerable concern which affects seed quality. It entails the physical disintegration of the seed, which can happen during harvesting, cleaning, or handling processes. It is important to note that different types of seeds are more prone to mechanical damage compared to others. For instance, grains with a convex shape are more vulnerable to damage compared to those with rounded shapes. This would mean that lentils, for example, are more prone to damage compared to Faba beans (because of their forms) The loss is even more considerable when the moisture content in the seed is low, like in periods of harvesting.
Improper storage is another significant factor affecting seed quality. When seeds are not well stored, they become more prone to mechanical damage, vulnerability to pests and diseases, as well as exposure to extreme climatic conditions, all which affect seed quality significantly. For example, when maize seeds are stored in damp stores, they will be more prone to developing bacteria and infection, such as aflatoxins. The seeds can also go bad due to poor storage, and those who don’t will decrease in quality. Moreover, there is always the challenge of pests like weevils and mice, which destroy seeds and reduce their quality. While ensuring and maintaining seed quality, proper emphasis should be placed on farmer seed enterprises, which leads to the establishment of improved seeds and varieties.