How Telangana State Agricultural University leveraged TraceX Seed Traceability to Improve the Authenticity of Seeds

Problem 

The seed industry in Telangana faces various challenges, including counterfeit seeds, hoarding by private players, tampering with seed bags, and a lack of digitization. Farmers suffer from purchasing low-quality seeds, leading to reduced yields and financial losses. Moreover, delays in the certification process hinder the commercialization of developed seed varieties. 

Solution 

To address these challenges, PJTSAU and the Telangana government leveraged TraceX’s Blockchain-based traceability solutions. This technology enabled the monitoring of seed supply and quality, ensuring transparency and authenticity throughout the seed value chain. 

Benefit 

Blockchain-based solution ensures farmers access authentic, high-quality seeds, preventing counterfeit activities and safeguarding their investments. Digitizing seed records streamlines the supply chain, ensuring timely availability of quality seeds, enhancing crop productivity, and fostering financial stability for farmers. 

pjtsau seed traceability, pjtsau case study, seed supply chain, sustainable seed traceability, food traceability, food supply chain

TraceX successfully piloted the Seed Supply Chain traceability with Blockchain for the Telangana government in collaboration with PJTSAU. The enthusiasm, drive, and receptiveness of TraceX helped them to scale up their reach to statewide Seed traceability in Telangana, truly a proud and satisfying moment for us. 

The agricultural sector is considered the backbone of India. A majority of our population is dependent on agriculture, directly or indirectly, for their livelihood, food, fodder, and fuel.  

One of the significant hurdles that repeatedly plague this sector is the quality of seeds reaching farmers. A seed is a primary input for agriculture and bears the responsibility for crop production, quality, and contribution of all other inputs. It is the fundamental block of agriculture.  

The seed cycle begins with the Nucleus Seed, which is genetically pure and used for monitoring performance. Breeder Seeds are then produced under strict supervision to maintain genetic purity. These seeds give rise to Foundation Seeds, which are further distributed by seed corporations to meet local demands. Finally, Certified Seeds, approved by certification agencies, are provided to farmers for cultivation. Throughout this cycle, ICAR oversees food safety and coordinates seed production to meet population needs. 

According to ICAR, Indian domestic seed market accounts for 2 billion USD out of 45 billion USD international seed market. It is estimated that the direct contribution of quality seed alone has a positive impact on overall production by approximately 15-20%.  

However, the circulation of poor quality and spurious seeds is rampant in India. 

PJTSAU, along with agricultural scientists, collaborates closely with startups to develop a pilot program focused on digital technology applications in agriculture. Under the aegis of ‘Prof. Jaishankar Telangana State Agricultural university’ (PJTSAU) SRTC undertakes seed research from ‘Foundation Seeds’ to ‘Breeder Seeds’ for various crops like paddy, red gram and green gram. 

PJTSAU developed Telangana Sona, a robust hybrid rice strain known for its superior quality, high yield, and shortened growth cycle of 120 days compared to the usual 150-160 days. Initially cultivated and sold to farmers by the university, its popularity surged among consumers, leading to a sharp increase in demand. However, the rapid demand growth prompted several private vendors to sell rice seeds under the Telangana Sona name without any verification or traceability, capitalizing on the variety’s reputation for quick profits. 

Challenges they Encountered in the Seed Market 

  1. Lack of traceability and proof of seed origin, leading to counterfeit products and reduced trust among farmers.
  2. Hoarding of quality seeds by companies, resulting in low market supply and inflated prices.
  3. Adulteration and tampering of tagged seed bags, causing heavy losses to farmers when seeds fail to germinate.
  4. Absence of digitization in the seed industry, making farmers susceptible to buying genetically modified or low-quality non-certified seeds.
  5. Difficulty in keeping records of seed production, hindering accountability and quality control.
  6. Authenticity and quality issues faced by traders due to surplus seed production and exports.
  7. Recalls of spurious or poor-quality seeds, impacting even reputed brands and manufacturers.
  8. Time-consuming certification process, delaying the multiplication and commercialization of developed seed varieties.

The Solutions offered by TraceX

pjtsau seed traceability, pjtsau case study, seed supply chain, sustainable seed traceability, food traceability, food supply chain
  1. Distribution & Traceability of Foundation Seeds: Ensuring transparency and accountability in the distribution process.
  2. Track and Trace the production of certified seeds: Providing end-to-end visibility into the seed production journey.
  3. Post-harvest buy-back from SSC for Quality testing: Facilitating quality testing after harvest to maintain seed quality standards.
  4. Packing and Labeling with QR code: Implementing QR code labeling for easy identification and traceability.
pjtsau seed traceability, pjtsau case study, seed supply chain, sustainable seed traceability, food traceability, food supply chain

TraceX Solutions

Farmer Registration and Identification: Digitally registering farmers and identifying them for specific seed cultivation. 

Geo-mapping of farmlands: Mapping farmlands to monitor field conditions and locations. 

Package of Practice with farmers: Providing guidelines for seed cultivation accessible through the TraceX application. 

Crop-Mapping and Data Capture: Capturing crop data to analyze farmer progress and seed batch performance. 

Seed processing and quality assurance: Treating, cleaning, and grading seeds to ensure high-quality standards. 

Certification by external accreditation agencies: Partnering with accreditation agencies to certify seed quality based on set parameters. 

QR code labeling and traceability: Assigning unique QR codes to each seed bag for accessing detailed information about the seed source and quality. 

Ensuring traceability and authenticity: Providing complete traceability and authenticity of seeds to farmers, universities, and private players through QR code scanning. 

pjtsau seed traceability, pjtsau case study, seed supply chain, sustainable seed traceability, food traceability, food supply chain

Key Takeaways

  1. Improved export compliance: Blockchain-based traceability simplifies meeting international seed export requirements by providing verified details about genetic makeup, purity, and other essential parameters.
  2. Empowerment of farmers: Decentralized information storage enables farmers to digitally trace seed origins, ensuring fair pricing for their produce and access to credit facilities.
  3. Enhanced crop quality: Access to high-quality, disease-resistant seeds improves crop health and value, driving demand from distributors, retailers, and consumers.
  4. Transparency and trust: Traceability empowers both consumers and agricultural companies to track seed journeys, fostering trust and transparency in the supply chain.
  5. Tamper-proof certification: Blockchain technology ensures tamper-proof certificates, storing detailed production parameters for reference and accountability.
  6. Consumer awareness: Certified products gain momentum as consumers increasingly seek information about the products they consume, driving demand for transparent and traceable supply chains.
pjtsau seed traceability, pjtsau case study, seed supply chain, sustainable seed traceability

Start using TraceX

Transparency, Trust and Success for your Climate Journey.

carbon management platform, carbon accounting software, carbon accounting solutions, crop management software
[hubspot type=form portal=8343454 id=726059d4-ebff-49cd-8575-53e70543f0f7]
[hubspot type=form portal=8343454 id=766be4d6-8029-4597-ae81-4bc6cca2f43b]

Request for a Demo Session

Download your How TraceX helped Telangana State Agricultural University to Improve the Authenticity of Seeds through Seed Traceability here

Download your How TraceX helped Telangana State Agricultural University to Improve the Authenticity of Seeds through Seed Traceability here

Download your How TraceX helped Telangana State Agricultural University to Improve the Authenticity of Seeds through Seed Traceability here

[hubspot type=form portal=8343454 id=304874ea-d4e0-4653-9825-707360746edb]
[hubspot type=form portal=8343454 id=b8321ac0-687a-4075-8035-ce57dd47662a]
food traceability, food supply chain

Please leave your details with us and we will connect with you for relevant positions.

[hubspot type=form portal=8343454 id=e6eb5c02-8b9e-4194-85cc-7fe3f41fe0f4]
food traceability, food supply chain

Please fill the form for all Media Enquiries, we will contact you shortly.

[hubspot type=form portal=8343454 id=a77c8d9d-0f99-4aba-9ea6-3b5c5d2f53dd]
food traceability, food supply chain

Kindly fill the form and our Partnership team will get in touch with you!

[hubspot type=form portal=8343454 id=b8cad09c-2e22-404d-acd4-659b965205ec]