TS sets up world-class seed testing lab

It’s second public sector seed lab in country to get ISTA recognition

The seed testing lab established by the Telangana State Seed and Organic Certification Authority (TSSOCA) with the nomenclature of Telangana International Seed Testing Authority (TISTA) at Rajendranagar here has secured the recognition of the International Seed Testing Authority (ISTA).

The seed testing lab with world-class facilities is expected to play a key role in improving the productivity and production of various crops in Telangana and elsewhere in the country by making available quality seed to farmers and save them from suffering loss with spurious and inferior quality seed. Director of TSSOCA K. Keshavulu stated that testing lab with international standards had been set up keeping in mind the increasing exports of seed from Telangana year by year.

He explained that the seed testing laboratory with international standards and modern testing equipment/machinery by investing ₹7 crore and it took about four years to establish the lab. After applying for ISTA recognition, all sorts of required tests and anlyses were conducted by an auditing team of the international agency in October last and the ISTA Secretariat in Switzerland issued the recognition certification on February 9.