Introduction

Planting high quality seeds of recommended variety/hybrid is essential to a profitable

production system and the first step in getting in higher yield. If you fail to plant quality seed,
you will have plant quality seed, you will have plant with poor stands, slow growth, weedy fields
and lower yields. High quality seed has high varietal purity, high germination (80% or above),
uniform size, low foreign material (inert matter), no weed or other crop seed, disease free and
insect damage, and a little mechanical damage.
In seed production, some of the cultural practices are identical with those applied for
normal crop production (not for seeds). However, there are some requirements and technologies
that seed production differed from normal crop production.Modern varieties are backbone of
formal seed industry. The availability, access, and use of quality seed of adaptable crop varieties,
are critical in increasing agricultural productivity, ensuring food security, and improving farmers
livelihoods. However, research in legumes particularly lentil is relatively new compared to
cereals both at IARCs and NARS (citeauthorch21:aw-hassan2003, citeyearch21:aw-
hassan2003).
The impact of investments in agricultural research can be realized only if farmers have
better access to high quality seed of the new crop varieties. Since seed quality is one of the main
factors that affects crop production potential it should reach farmers in a good quality state. Seed
quality comprises many aspects where four key attributes are explicitly identified: genetic,
physical, physiological and health quality. However, seed quality can be affected by
environmental conditions under which the crop is grown and the cultural practices used for
production. Maintaining seed quality is essential if the variety is to meet the expectation of
farmers and consumers. Seed producers should be aware of the technical and regulatory
requirements for growing a crop for seed, and ensure that all operations are carried out strictly
under specific guidelines in a timely fashion. The quality of the seed can be ensured by following
a combination of key technical procedures and regulatory measures. The quality control
assurance system by establishing administrative guidelines and technical procedures plays a
supervisory role for smooth operation and implementation of the program and for enforcing the
regulatory measures to maintain the quality of seed produced. Limited choice of improved
varieties, lack of sufficient quantity of seed, mechanization problems in developing countries,
and high seed production costs, are some of the major constraints hindering the development of
an effective and efficient lentil seed industry. This chapter covers key components such as
variety maintenance and technical aspects of seed production, seed processing, seed storage, and
seed quality assurance.
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