Main Issues and Solutions in Spring Wheat Seed Production
Wang Xiulan, Xu Yongtai, Shen Qingling, Zhao Desheng
(Yuzhu County Seed Management Station, Qinghai Province, 810500)
Huzhu County is located in the northeastern part of Qinghai Province, with an average elevation of 2700 meters. It experiences no harsh winters or scorching summers, with an average annual temperature of 3.5°C. The region falls under a cold and temperate continental climate, making it ideal for high-yield crop production. The total cultivated area in the county is 59,000 hectares, with spring wheat being the third-largest crop after rape and potato. However, recent challenges have emerged in spring wheat seed production, prompting a detailed analysis of the key issues and potential solutions.
**1. Key Problems in Spring Wheat Seed Production**
**1.1 Decentralized Production Model**
Since the implementation of the household contract responsibility system, the centralization of seed production has become increasingly difficult. The current model relies on "company-based farmer households," which leads to fragmented management. This decentralization complicates field inspections, as large areas are involved, resulting in time-consuming and labor-intensive processes. It also hinders effective field-by-field monitoring and control.
**1.2 Disorganized Planting and Variety Confusion**
Spontaneous planting by farmers has led to disorderly cultivation and the introduction of unregulated strains. Many farmers still rely on traditional varieties such as "Mutual Aid Red" and "Arbo," which have been used for decades due to their stability. This lack of variety control results in poor seed purity and difficulty in managing mechanical mixtures. Technicians struggle to ensure quality through sensory evaluation alone.
**1.3 Low Commodity Rate**
Spring wheat in Qinghai is prone to contamination and has a low propagation coefficient, leading to a low commodity rate. Compared to winter wheat, it also lacks market competitiveness due to inferior color and processing quality. As a result, farmers are less inclined to grow spring wheat for economic gain, further reducing its production area and making it harder to maintain seed quality.
**1.4 Poor Seed Quality**
Although several new varieties like Lantian No. 3 and Jinmai No. 13 have been introduced, many face issues such as weak disease resistance and inadequate purification. Traditional varieties remain dominant due to their long-standing use and reliability. Farmers urgently need improved, high-yielding, and disease-resistant varieties to meet modern agricultural demands.
**1.5 Degeneration of Seed Quality**
Due to funding shortages and the transformation of state-owned farms, the original species production system has weakened. The process of strain selection, analysis, and breeding is complex and costly, limiting the availability of pure seeds. This has led to a gap between original and improved varieties, causing quality degradation and reducing the effectiveness of seed production.
**2. Proposed Solutions**
First, increasing awareness and improving technological support is essential. By organizing unified planting and management across different regions, such as concentrating "Mutual Aid" in certain villages or "Plateau 448" in others, we can enhance seed quality and efficiency. Strengthening field inspections and minimizing mechanical mixing during harvest will help improve yield and quality.
Second, reducing costs and increasing output efficiency through advanced agronomic techniques like dry-fertilization and fine-seeding can benefit farmers. Rational fertilizer application and proper plant structure management will boost productivity and make spring wheat more attractive to growers.
Third, establishing a three-tiered management system led by the county seed department can ensure better coordination between research, demonstration, and field implementation. This will help maintain the purity of original and improved varieties and meet the diverse needs of farmers.
Fourth, securing funding from multiple sources and accelerating the introduction of new varieties will create a sustainable seed production cycle. Government support is crucial to ensure that these efforts lead to long-term improvements.
Fifth, strengthening inspection procedures—both in the field and in the lab—will ensure seed purity and prevent hybrid contamination. A robust monitoring system is necessary to maintain quality from production to storage.
**3. Gaps Between China’s Seed Market and Mature Markets**
China’s seed industry is still in its early development stage, lagging behind mature global markets in several areas.
**3.1 Low Integration of Research, Education, and Promotion**
Historically, breeding resources were concentrated in state-owned institutions, while private companies focused mainly on production and sales. This fragmentation limits the development of stable, high-quality varieties and reduces corporate competitiveness.
**3.2 Oversupply and Market Instability**
The market is oversaturated with numerous small and medium-sized seed companies, leading to blind production and excessive competition. The rapid approval of new varieties has worsened supply-demand imbalances, especially in crops like corn and rice.
**3.3 Weak Market Order and Enforcement**
Despite government policies aimed at promoting fair competition, enforcement remains weak. Local protectionism and administrative interference hinder the development of large-scale enterprises, while counterfeit seeds continue to threaten both farmers and the industry.
**4. Innovation and Development to Improve Competitiveness**
To strengthen China’s seed industry, enterprises must become the main drivers of innovation. Building strong R&D capabilities, focusing on brand development, and expanding international cooperation are key strategies.
**4.1 Enterprises as Drivers of Innovation**
Seed companies should focus on developing proprietary varieties and investing in research. Large multinational companies have shown that integrated R&D systems are essential for maintaining competitive advantage. China must support similar developments to enhance its global standing.
**4.2 Enhancing Technical Services**
Providing farmers with comprehensive technical support is critical. Companies must improve service delivery, establish better communication channels, and collaborate with distributors and local experts to ensure quality and efficiency.
**4.3 Shifting from Variety Management to Brand Management**
As the market evolves, competition will shift from variety to brand. Building strong, reliable brands will require consistent quality, effective marketing, and long-term customer trust.
**4.4 Expanding International Cooperation**
Global trends show that seed companies are consolidating and expanding internationally. China must embrace this trend by strengthening foreign partnerships, introducing advanced technologies, and actively participating in global competitions.
In conclusion, the future of China’s seed industry depends on overcoming current challenges through innovation, improved management, and stronger international engagement. With the right policies and collective efforts, the industry can achieve sustainable growth and enhance national agricultural competitiveness.
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