Seed Research Strategic Program.

Seed is the basic input to agriculture. Its role as a catalyst in ensuring optimum utilization of other agri-production and protection inputs and cost effectiveness is crucially well recognized. It is the single most important technology capsule that makes the major difference on the productivity front. More than 80% of the farmers of Iran are either small-scale commercial farmers who have to sell their surplus production to the market, or subsistence farmers who grow crops for their own needs. Large commercial farms are few and dispersed in our country. This situation complicates the distribution and marketing of seeds and planting material. The small farmer heavily dependent on locally available seed, whatever the quality, because of easy access, timely availability and low cost. These farmers seldom buy their seed, but retain seed from the previous harvest. To become food self-sufficient, farmers should have on-going access to quality seed in both normal and crisis situations. Therefore, develop seed security policies to insure that seed of the right varieties is readily available, at an affordable price, in sufficient quantity at the appropriate planting time. The availability to farmers of quality seeds, of a wide range of varieties and crops is one of the major factors required to achieve food security. Seed is also the key to optimum use of natural resources and according to its provenance and the breeding goal, seed determines the requirements for inputs such as pesticides, fertilizer and agricultural technology. Food security would be a distant dream, if the productivity levels of these farmers remain stagnant. The well recognized principal instrument for accelerated food production is through strengthening seed research, production and supply systems, i.e. supply of good quality seeds of proven genetic material, possessing high inherent yield potential and value-added traits. Seed is the starting point of food security as it determines the productivity of other inputs .Much of the credit for the Green Revolution in different parts of the world goes to the improved seeds. Over a period of time seed industry has evolved into corporations, certification agencies, laboratories and processing plants. The main objectives of this study were; Understanding of the past and present status of crop seed research and production, Analysis of research achievements in the past and present in Iran, Analysis of limitations and constraints, Prioritizing of limitations and constrains, and Present of strategics for seed production. To achieve these objectives, a complex committee of basic planning committee, sub-planning committee were developed in which the representatives of research, implementation and other research beneficiaries are involved. According to the results, based on limitations and constraints in these program recommended research and ,implementation strategics.