Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2020) 9(6): 1852-1861 1852 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.906.230 Role of Formal and Informal Seed Sector in Augmenting Seed Replacement Rate in Raichur District of Karnataka, India Umesh Hiremath*, Basave Gowda, B. S. Ganiger and G. Y. Lokesh National Seed Project (Crops), Seed Unit, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Seed is an essential input for crop production. Access of farmers to quality seed of superior varieties is key in increasing agricultural productivity and production. Use of quality seeds alone could increase productivity by 15- 20 % indicate the critical role of seed in agriculture. As Indian economy is basically agrarian due to sheer number of people directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture, the role of seed in India's context is far greater significant. Food security is fundamental for any sort of progress and for India with a billion plus population, is of utmost priority. Seed is prime input having International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 6 (2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Meeting the ever increasing food demand with an alarming increased population is very challenging under climate changing scenario. This could be possible only through second green revolution or ever green revolution. For sustained agriculture production, a good quality seed is the most basic and essential input. Other inputs are contingent upon quality of seed for being optimally effective. The existing seed systems in India involve the formal seed sector, which is an official or private control of seed monitored through the various processes. The informal seed sector is simply the farmers themselves that provide each other and themselves with seed for sowing. Designing appropriate seed systems to meet the specific challenges demands clear identification of needs and strategies. It is very imperative to analyze the contribution of formal and informal seed sector in enhancing seed replacement rate. Hence, a survey based study has been conducted to discern the formal and informal seed sector contributions in seed supply in Raichur district of Karnataka. The formal seed sector is contributing 78% to total seed supply whereas, informal seed sector is contributing 22% to seed supply in the present study. Nearly 80% of the farmers are using quality seeds i.e. certified seed and truthfully labeled seed and remaining 20% farmers are using farm saved seeds. Significant variation has been observed with respect to quality of farmer saved seeds. More percentage of seedlings with primary infection was noticed in the abnormal seedlings category. 33% of the farmer saved seeds were below the Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards for physical purity. There is no significant change in crops was observed during last ten years. Majority of the farmers are using jute bags for storing their farm saved seeds. Keywords Seed Sector, Seed Replacement Rate, informal seed sector Accepted: 18 May 2020 Available Online: 10 June 2020 Article Info