The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW), Government of India, organized a National Workshop on the SATHI (Seed Authentication, Traceability, and Holistic Inventory) Portal today at the NASC Complex, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. The event, led by the Seed Division of DA&FW, brought together over 140 participants, including government officials, state agriculture representatives, researchers, and other key stakeholders from across India.
This workshop reviewed the progress of the SATHI Portal and outlined the next steps for improving seed traceability, inventory management, certification, and the overall seed supply chain.
Improving Seed Quality for Farmers
Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of DA&FW, delivered the welcome address, stressing the importance of seed traceability to ensure farmers receive high-quality seeds. He stated, “It’s important that certified seeds reach farmers, and we must promote the use of new, superior seed varieties for their benefit.” Dr. Chaturvedi also emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to provide farmers with reliable, certified seed varieties and encouraged state officials to use the SATHI Portal to promote these varieties.
Collaboration for Success
In her opening remarks, Smt. Shubha Thakur, Additional Secretary of DA&FW, highlighted the critical role of state agriculture departments in the success of the SATHI initiative. She stated, “Collaboration among stakeholders is the key to SATHI’s success. We are confident that state departments will truly be ‘Saathis’ in this mission.” Smt. Thakur also emphasized the importance of Phase-II of the SATHI Portal, which focuses on seed inventory management, ensuring that farmers have transparent access to seed-related information. She reassured everyone that farmers’ welfare remains the top priority of the government.
Reviewing the Portal’s Progress
The inaugural session began with opening remarks by Shri Dilip Srivastava, Deputy Commissioner (QC) at DA&FW. He welcomed dignitaries like Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Smt. Shubha Thakur, Smt. Ruchika Gupta (Advisor, Agriculture Statistics), Shri Prashant Mittal (DDG, NIC), and Dr. Sanjay Kumar from ICAR-IISS MAU. Shri Srivastava thanked all participants and noted the importance of working together to make the SATHI initiative a success.
During the technical sessions, senior officials from the NIC, the Seed Division, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) presented the SATHI Portal’s key features. These presentations explained how the portal addresses challenges in seed certification and management. A Joint Director from NIC, Odisha, shared insights into how the Phase-I rollout of the portal improved the seed certification process in several states.
Ensuring Seed Quality and Efficiency
Detailed presentations followed on critical topics like seed law enforcement, DNA fingerprinting, and seed laboratory processes. These components are essential to the portal’s broader goal of ensuring seed quality and transparency. Experts from NIC and ICAR explained how these processes are integrated into the SATHI Portal to enhance seed traceability and management across India.
The workshop also included a session where representatives from 10 states shared their experiences with the SATHI Portal. They discussed the benefits of the portal, such as streamlined seed certification processes, and how it has improved both accuracy and speed. Some state officials highlighted challenges they faced and provided valuable feedback on the portal’s impact at the grassroots level.
Preparing for Phase-II of the SATHI Portal
An interactive session followed, where state officials and union territories discussed their readiness to adopt Phase-II of the SATHI Portal, which focuses on seed inventory management. During this session, participants expressed their needs for capacity-building measures, technical support, and state-specific adjustments for a smoother transition to this next phase. The discussions were aimed at ensuring the portal’s successful implementation on a larger scale.
The SATHI Portal, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), is an important step toward revolutionizing seed certification and inventory management in India. The portal improves transparency and efficiency in the seed sector, addressing concerns about seed quality and traceability for farmers.
Conclusion
The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Shri Dilip Srivastava, who emphasized the importance of the SATHI Portal in improving seed quality control and promoting transparency in the seed supply chain. With continued efforts and collaboration, the SATHI initiative aims to provide farmers with reliable access to high-quality seeds, boosting productivity and supporting India’s agricultural growth.
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