SATHI PORTAL

• Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare recently launched SATHI portal and mobile app.
• SATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication and Holistic Inventory) Portal and Mobile App is a Centralized Online System for seed traceability, authentication and inventory designed to deal with challenges of seed production, quality seed identification and seed certification.
• Seeds authenticity can be traced through a QR code system.
• Portal has been developed by National Informatics Centre in collaboration with MoA&FW on theme of Uttam Beej – Samriddh Kisan.
• It’ll consist of integrated 7 verticals of seed chain – Research Organisation, Seed Certification, Seed Licensing, Seed Catalogue, Dealer to Farmer Sales, Farmer Registration and Seed DBT.
• Training should be imparted through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Krishi Vigyan Kendras and State Governments.

About Seed certification

• Seed certification is a process designed to maintain and make available to the general public continuous supply of high quality seeds.
• Seeds with valid certification can only be sold by valid licensed dealers to centrally registered farmers who will receive subsidy through DBT directly into their pre-validated bank accounts.
• In India, legal status to seed certification was given by Enactment of Seeds Act, 1966.
• Seed certification is voluntary but labelling is compulsory in India.
• India established Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights (PPV&FR) Authority, under PPV&FR Act, 2001 to ensure availability of quality seeds and planting material to farmer