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 Enquiries SEED News - july/aug 2005
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This section is coordinated by the professors from the Federal University of Pelotas-Brazil, with the objective of answering the inquiries sent by the readers.
Send your question to e-mail: silmar@seednews.inf.br
I have noticed that the use of hybrid rice seeds is constantly increasing, also increasing the number of countries which are adopting it. This way I would like to know how can one determine if a material is a hybrid one and at what extent it can increase productivity?
As a matter of fact, the use of hybrid rice seeds is sharply increasing, being China the best example, with over a half of its cultured area with hybrid rice. As to evaluating whether a material is hybrid or not, it is used the heterosys level measure which in case of rice is fixed over 95%. It is a test for which few labs are qualified to perform. With regards to increasing productivity, there are consistent results in which the hybrid rice produces more than 20% in relation to a given variety.
I liked the subject-matter about seeds production in South America, published as central one in SEED News' last edition. I had my attention directed to the fact that some countries export large amounts of seeds, while others are great importers but all of them are quite similar in knowledge, weather conditions and structure. Can you comment the reason for such phenomenon?
Exporting seeds needs some requirements to be fulfilled, such as: 1- producing high quality seeds; 2- having a certified production system and quality evaluation; and 3- having good partnerships. In this way, using Chile as a reference, we can notice that the country has good conditions for seed production and it was the first, in that area, who produced certified seeds, in agreement to OECD rules while actively participates in ISF congresses. Chile exports over US$ 120 million a year. Countries that do not export seeds are not able to attend one or more of the requirements previously quoted.
Can you please explain me what is soybean seed-to-seed multiplying rate, that allows production planning?
Production planning is performed based on seeds demand, which in turn is a function of cultured area (ha), sowing density (kg/ha), and seeds usage rate (%). In seeds production, seeds are lost in several stages so that, at field level, due to contamination and deterioration it is common to have losses up to 25%; at the seed processing unity, 20%; and as a risk factor, 10%, totalling a 55% loss. Considering that one soy seed will produce a plant with 100 seeds, the soy seed-to-seed multiplying rate is 1:45. Some companies achieve a higher rate while others, that do not invest in technology, achieve lower ones.
I have been often hearing and reading that seed pruducers and farmers are paying royalties and technological fees. I would like to know what is the legal basis for that?
Governments have usually approved cultivar protection rules in order to increase high raw material availability to the farmers. There is a consensus that this is one of the best tools used for implementing crops productivity. This way, in order to keep the process going, owners gained the payment of royalties and technological fees. It is considered as royalty the payment that a seed producer makes against the one who owns the multiplication license for a given variety, while the technological fee is charged to allow the use of a patented event. Cultivars protection, according to UPOV agreement in 1978, extends up to the seed, while patent protection extends up to grain. Since royalty falls upon cultivars protection, in Brazil, the one who pays for it is the seed producer, while the technological fee, that falls upon patented raw material, can be paid by the farmer.
I am planning to increase the drying capacity of my seed processing unity. I would like to know if the intermittent dryers are suitable to dry soybean seeds.
We are happy to know that you are already drying more than 50% of your soy seed production. It means you are harvesting more seeds in better physiological conditions. With regards to intermittent dryers, we have good data about them because they have a high drying capacity with over 1% / hour, while keep lots separated and are easily-operated. The new ones include internal discharging lift in order to minimize mechanical damage and varietal mix.
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