Report of the Committee constituted by Chairman, under the …clinic.rubberboard.org.in/pdf/comm_report.pdf · 2014. 3. 10. · Report of the Committee constituted by Chairman, under

Report of the Committee constituted by Chairman, under the Chairmanship of Dr. J Thomas,

Rubber Production commissioner to formulate the modalities for standardisation and

certification of planting materials/nurseries.

Background

The quality of planting materials is the back bone of any plantation crop. This is more pertinent

in rubber considering its long gestation period and economic life. There has been a wide-

ranging national concern about spurious supply of planting materials by private nurseries.

Subsequent to temporary suspension of approval of private nurseries in 1986, the nursery

business became a lucrative trade and put aside the quality and ethic. The feedback from the

extension officials from the entire rubber growing area and the multidisciplinary study by RRII

confirmed this aspect more convincingly. The study by RRII revealed that only around 11 %

nursery owners took the nursery business seriously. The seed bill 2004 is under active

consideration of the Government of India and the provisions of the bill includes mandatory

registration of nurseries, authenticity of bud wood source bushes and certification of planting

materials by designated authority. The implementation of standardisation and certification of

nurseries/planting materials will make a smooth transition to the provisions of seed bill 2004 on

its implementation. Considering all these aspects the Planting Committee held on 28 August

2013 had recommended introduction of voluntary certification of nurseries. The meeting of the

Board held on 11 September 2013 endorsed the recommendation of the Planting Committee

and Chairman constituted the committee for formulating the modalities for standardisation and

certification of planting nurseries.

Committee chairman

1. Dr J. Thomas, Rubber Production commissioner

Members

1. Shri M.N. Gopinath, Addl RPC

2. Dr Tharian George K, Joint Director (ER)

3. Sabu P Idicula, Joint Director (CP)

4. Dr K.U. Thomas, Joint Director (LHT)

5. Dr Kavitha K Mydin, Joint Rirector (Cl)

6. Shri K.G.Sudheer Babu, Jt. RPC

Proceedings of the committee

Two meetings of the committee were convened in the chamber of Rubber

Production Commissioner under the chairmanship of Dr. J Thomas, on 17th

October 2013 and 24th October 2013. Prior to the constitution of the

committee, Rubber Production Commissioner had initiated a process for the

certification of planting materials and conducted two workshops, one at Central

Nursery, Karikkatoor, and the other at Head Office conference hall. The

participants were extension officers, scientists from RRII and experts from

outside, and discussed and formulated a draft for the good nursery practices. He

also conducted a meeting of the representatives of private nurseries and

collected their opinions in this regard. The committee discussed in detail about

this good nursery practices, the suggestions of nursery owners and other

process for the standardisation and certification of planting materials and

nurseries. The minutes of this meeting, covering the proposals and good nursery

practices, were mailed to all regional offices, RRII scientists, experts in this field

and representatives of nursery owners with a request to forward their

suggestions in this regard. Some of the recipients responded and their

suggestions were discussed in a meeting held on 18-11-2013 and made changes

to the draft proposal. The meeting held on 24-11-2013 held at Rubber

Production Commissioner’s chamber chaired by Dr. J Thomas and attended by

committee members except Dr. Tharian George again discussed and decided to

convene one more meeting to finalise the recommendations after getting more

suggestions from stake holders. On 13-02-2014 the committee again convened

and decided to not to certify private nurseries at present and to certify the

planting materials this year in the Rubber Board’s nurseries as per the standards

approved. The committee also decided to initiate the processes of certification

of planting materials of private nurseries (optional) from next year onwards. It is

also decided that for the certification the nursery should have minimum facilities

and the parameters were also decided. As per the decisions the committee

decided to prepare the final report.

.

The committee recommendations

1. Recommended to certify planting materials –

I. Bud grafted poly-bagged plants

II. Bud grafted Root Trainer plants

II. Recommended Good Nursery Practices (GNP) to be followed for certification of

planting materials. (Annexure I)

III. Recommended standards for

i. Ground nurseries

ii. Bud wood nurseries

iii. Brown budded stumps

iv. Green budded stumps

v. Root trainer plants and

vi. Green budded Poly bagged plants and

vii. Brown budded Poly bagged plants.

IV. Recommended the parameters for certification of Planting materials-

I. Bud-grafted poly bagged plants (PBP)

II. Brown budded poly bagged plants (BBS)

III. Green budded poly bagged plants (GBS)

IV. Bud-grafted root trainer plants (RTP)

V. Recommended the fee structure for the planting material certification

VI. Recommended the procedure for certification of private nurseries.

Facilities required for Nurseries

[Items 1 to 12 are minimum requirement for the nurseries for certification of planting

materials and item 13 to 20 are optional.]

]

1. Sufficient suitable land for nursery in nursery owner’s possession.

2. Own bud wood nursery of 200 nos. of approved clone in a minimum area of 0.01 ha.

(2.5 cents)

3. Nursery office and store.

4. Plant protection equipment and other implements.

5. Perennial source of water.

6. Proper irrigation facility.

7. Nursery waste management facility.

8. Maintaining registers mentioned for each item (hard copy).

9. Workers sanitation (including separate toilets, etc.) facilities.

10. Rest area for workers.

11. First aid facilities.

12. Pesticide safety kits.

13. Coir pith curing tank or sufficient quantity of cured coir pith for root trainer plant

nurseries.

14. Sufficient numbers of root trainer plant stands for air-pruning.

15. Poly house with sufficient space.

16. Net house with sufficient space.

17. Boundary protection.

18. Trained labours/ budders.

19. e- Business facility (internet booking, billing, payment, maintaining of registers etc.)

20. Site delivery of planting materials.

.

Parameters fixed for certification of planting materials

Standards for Green Budded poly bagged plants (GBP)

1. Bud grafted poly bagged plants of approved clones, in polythene bags,

LDPE/HDPE, of minimum size 45x18cm and 400 gauge thickness, capable of

holding 6 Kg of soil raised either by planting green budded stumps or by in

situ method.

2. Vigorous and healthy plants, free from all diseases with intact leaves, devoid

of spots or dieback. At the time of transplanting plants should have 2-whorl

growth.

3. Girth of the rootstock of the GBP should have minimum 4.5 centimeter at

collar region.

4. Scion growth of the GBP should have 2 centimeter girth at the base. (7mm

diameter).

5. The number of leaves in the first and second whorl should be minimum 7.

6. The height of green budded poly bag plant with green budded stumps and in

situ planting (GBP) should have minimum 40 cm above the soil core.

Standards for Brown Budded poly bagged plants (BBP)

1. 2-3 whorled GBP-Bud grafted poly bagged plants of approved clones, in

polythene bags, LDPE/HDPE, of minimum size 50 x 25cm or 55 x 25 cm and 400

gauge thickness, capable of holding 8 Kg to 10 kg of soil, raised either planting

Brown budded stumps or by in situ method.

2. 4-5 whorled BBP- bag size should be 65x35 cm or 60X 30cm.

3. BBP should be vigorous and healthy, free from all diseases, leaves intact without

spots or dieback.

4. Girth of the rootstock should have minimum 5 cm and maximum 12cm at collar

region. ,

5. Scion growth on attainment of two-whorl stage should have 3 cm girth at the

base and for 4-5 whorls, have 4 cm.

6. The number of leaves in the first whorl should be minimum 7 and that of second

whorl should be 8.

7. The height of BBS of 2 whorl should have minimum 45 cm above the soil core

and for 4-5 have minimum 90 cm.

Standards for Root trainer plants (RTP)

1. Root trainer Cups used for raising plants should have a minimum size of

length of 26cm and a holding capacity of 600cc.

2. In situ seedlings for bud grafting or green budded stumps only permitted to

grow in 600cc root trainers.

3. For air pruning of tap root, the root trainer plants on attaining sufficient

growth should be removed from the soil and suspended in air for minimum 8

weeks.

4. RTPs should be vigorous and healthy, free from all diseases, leaves intact

without spots or dieback. At the time of transplanting plants should have 2-

whorl growth.

5. Girth of stump should be minimum 3 cm at collar region.

6. Scion sprout on attainment of two-whorl stage should have 1.5cm girth at

the base.

7. The number of leaves in the first and second whorl should be minimum 7.

8. The height of root trainer plant should have minimum 40 cm (two whorls,

first whorl minimum 15 cms length) from the bud union.

Certification of planting materials by ascertaining clone and minimum

standards for each plant and tag the plants with a barcode or hologram

identification mark.

Certification fee for planting materials

Recommended a fee for the certification of planting materials,

Per plant fee is fixed as Rs.5.

50 % of the fee to be paid along with application and balance to pay with

subsequent request for additional certification or along with final return.

[This fee for certification of planting materials is highly essential; if no fee or

nominal fee, the total process becomes non serious and desired impact will

not be achieved. The nursery owners can pass on the burden of the fee to the

growers and the growers will be greatly benefited by getting standard

genuine certified planting material. Thus the amount recommended by the

committee is not in higher side.]

Penalty for violation of certification norms by the nurseries

In the certification process strict vigilance is required and for violation of

certification norms stringent penalties to be implemented.

Those who are violating the terms and condition of the certification of

planting materials that nursery owner and the nursery site should be

blacklisted for a minimum period of 5 years and any amount outstanding

with Rubber Board, also to be forfeited.

Certification procedures

1. Inviting application (online and hard form) - By April of previous year

[for 2015 certification invite application in April 2014]

2. Scrutiny of application by certification committee for first screening and

release of application for first inspection – By June.

3. First inspection of the nursery- After ascertaining the receipt of at least

one consignment of seeds in the nursery.

4. Second screening of applications based on the reports of certification

committee.

5. Second inspection including the verification of registers and tagging of

plants with stipulated standard, in the second fortnight of April to last

week of May of next year.

6. Issue of certificate for tagged plants to be completed by end of May.

7. A third or subsequent visits also necessary as per the request of the

nursery owner to certify the subsequently readied plants.

8. Validity of the certification of planting materials expires on 31st of

December.

9. Submission of returns- if second subsequent time certification is

required, returns up to that period must be submitted along with

request. Final return should be submitted to the certifying committee

before 31st of succeeding January.

Office procedures

1. A certification committee is to be constituted under each Regional

Office for the certification of the planting materials. The Deputy Rubber

Production Commissioner will be the chairman of the certifying

committee and one Development Officer, one Assistant Development

Officer and the concerned Field Officer/ADO of the nursery area as

members.

2. The committee will scrutinise the applications received in the Regional

Office and the eligible applications to be released for inspection.

A sub Committee headed by the Development Officer, Assistant

Development Officer and the concerned Field Officer/ADO to inspect the

nursery and tag the standard plants for certification. This subcommittee

is to submit a report showing the observance of all other certification

conditions by the nursery owner and the eligible plants for certification

to the Deputy Rubber Production Commissioner for issuing the certificate

to the nursery. In turn the Deputy Rubber Production Commissioner to

issue the certificate to the nursery.

3.To redress any complaint from the nursery an appellate committee is to

be constituted in Head Office level under the Chairmanship of Joint

Rubber Production Commissioner the Deputy Rubber Production

Commissioner (Planting Material) and a Scientist from RRII as members.

The decision of this committee will be final.

Kottayam Chairman (Internal Committee)

14-02-2014 Rubber Production Commissioner

ANNEXURE I

Registers/Records/documents.

The following registers and documents should be maintained in the nursery office and

made available to the certifying authority, at any time for verification. (either hard copy

or soft copy)

Ground nursery - register.

• Total area.

• Area of germination bed, field seedling area, area of seedlings in Root Trainer Cup and in

poly bags.

• Date of receipt of seeds.

• Date of sowing seeds in the germination bed.

• No. of geminated seeds planted in nursery bed on each day.

• Total number of seedling in field, in root trainer cups and in poly bags.

• Date of manuring, weeding, thinning out and spraying

• No. of seedling plants available for budding in the field, in root trainer cups and in poly

bags.

Budding details (separate section for green budding and brown budding to be maintained)

• Date of commencement of budding and no. of seedling plants budded on each date-

clone wise.

• No. of seedling plants budded with each clone in the field, in situ planting in root trainer

cups and in polybags.

• Quantity of bud wood/ stick –clone wise.

• Date of opening, number of successfully bud-grafted plants and percentage-clone wise.

• Details of use of the budded stumps, budded stumps used in Root trainer cups, poly

bags and for sales.

Sale details

• Rate of planting materials produced

• Date wise details of sale of planting materials- type wise and clone wise

• Stock position - type wise and clone wise

• Operational procedure also should be recorded in the register along with labour

engaged.

• Date of manuring

• Plant protection

• Budding

• Opening

• Pulling out and packing.

• Removal of nursery waste.

Document s

• Plan / sketch of the nursery area with demarcation of each type and clone.

• Ownership/possession proof.

• Bill book and Receipts.

• Annual returns

Bud wood nursery- register

• Total area

• Clones planted.

• Area of each clone.

• Bud wood source.

• Year of planting.

• Spacing.

• No. of points.

• Date wise use of bud wood

• Rate of one-meter bud wood.

• Operational procedure also should be recorded in the register along with labour

engaged.

• Date of manuring

• Date and details of plant protection measures taken.

Documents

• Plan/sketch of the bud wood nursery area with demarcation of each clone.

• Ownership/ possession proof.

• Proof showing the authenticity of Bud wood

• Bill book.

• Copies of annual returns.

Root trainer nursery - registers

• No. of Root trainer cups in possession

• No. of cups planted with seedling

• No. of cups planted with budded stumps

• Date wise planting of seeds in the cups

• Dates wise details of budding in cups

• Date wise planting of budded stumps in the cups

• Date wise and clone wise details of cut back of budded plants.

• Date wise and clone wise details of placing for hardening.

• No. of plants with stipulated standards for certification as on -----

• No of plants rejected due to substandard growth/ disease/etc

• Details of sales

Poly bag nursery - registers

• No. of poly bags planted with seedling

• No. of poly bags planted with budded stumps

• Date wise planting of seeds in the poly bags

• Dates wise details of budding in poly bags

• Date wise planting of budded stumps in the poly bags

• Date wise and clone wise details of cut back of budded plants.

• No. of plants with stipulated standards for certification as on -----

• No of plants rejected due to sub standard growth/ disease/etc

• Date of manuring with details of manure used.

• Date and details of plant protection measures taken.

• Details of sales.

(* All these registers can be maintained in one book and also in soft form)

Rubber Production Commissioner (Chairman, Internal Committee)

ANNEXURE II

Planting material certification – Good Nursery Practices (GNP)

1. Rubber Seeds: -

1. Seeds used for raising seedlings should be collected during the main season starting

from July.

2. Seeds collected from disease free area are preferred for raising seedlings.

3. On sowing in germination beds, seeds which germinates within 15 days may be

transplanted and those germinated after 15 days may be discarded as they are likely

to give rise to weak seedlings.

4. Seeds should be transplanted to the nursery beds from the germination beds

without damaging taproot.

5. Germinated seeds with damaged radicle should be discarded straightaway.

2. Ground nursery: -

1. Well-drained level area with a proper water source is ideal for ground nursery.

Undulating area with adequate soil conservation measures are also manageable.

2. Fertile land with loamy soil and with good soil depth of at least 75cms is

preferable.

3. Land prepared by digging to a minimum depth of 60 cm.

4. Adequate quantity of manure should be applied as basal dressing at the time of

bed preparation.

5. Separate area may be demarcated for producing green budded stumps and

brown budded stumps.

6. Spacing of stock seedlings to be adopted for green budding is 23cmx23cm and

that for brown budding is 30cmx30cm.

7. Planting in nursery beds should be completed by September.

8. For ensuring vigorous growth of seedlings timely cultural operations like

weeding, manure application, mulching, disease control measures, irrigation, etc

are to be adopted.

9. Thinning out may be done at regular intervals to eliminate weak seedlings and to

encourage growth of vigorous seedlings.

10. By October/November the seedlings for green budding should attain a girth of

2.5cm at collar region.

11. By April/May the seedlings for brown budding should attain 6cm at collar region.

3. Bud wood: -

1. Certification of bud wood nursery in terms of cultural practices along with infrastructure

certification is needed.

2. Nurseries should have sufficient quantity of bud wood points (source bushes) of

approved clones.

3. Planting material for raising bud wood mother plants should be obtained from authentic

source.

4. Maintain separate blocks for each clone with proper labeling.

5. Spacing for planting bud wood mother plants should be 90cmx60cm for Brown buds and

60 cm x 60 cm for Green buds.

6. Timely disease control measures should be adopted for ensuring healthy and disease

free bud wood.

7. Timely cultural operations like weeding, manure application irrigation, etc should be

carried out.

8. Cut back of bud wood mother plants should be done at the time of raising ground

nursery itself, preferably between August to October,

9. Maximum number of shoots allowable in a mother plant is eight for the purpose of

brown budding.

10. Unused bud wood mother plants are also to be pruned along with used plants.

11. Bud wood mother plants should be replanted within a maximum of 10 years.

12. Avoid harvesting of bud wood on the day of chemical (pesticide) application.

4. Green budded stumps:-

1. Vigorous seedlings grown in the ground nursery or seedlings grown in polythene

bags/ cups for in situ budding are to be selected for green budding.

2. Plants having girth minimum 2 cm at collar region, with brown bark up to 15cm

height is good for green budding.

3. Advisable to take up first round of green budding during October/November

itself.

4. Stock plant and bud wood should be of almost same age and girth.

5. Buds are to be collected from 6-8 weeks old bud shoots or sticks. Buds found

above the scale leaves alone are ideal for green budding.

6. The bud patch should have approximately 3.5cm length and 0.6 cm width.

7. Opening of bandage to examine the success is done after 21days.

8. Pulling out of successful bud grafts for planting in poly-bags/ cutback of in situ

bud grafts done by February.

9. At the time of pulling out green budded stumps should have 4.5cm girth at collar

region.

10. The green budded stumps should have straight, uncoiled root of minimum 30 cm

length.

11. Cut back of green budded plant at a height of 5cm (Snag length) above the upper

end of the bud patch.

12. Bud failures after one round of budding have to be discarded.

13. Before planting, keep the root portion of pulled out stumps in water for 5 to 6

hours and dip the root in cow dung slurry. If needed give a fresh cut in the root

tip before planting.

5. Brown budded stumps:-

1. Vigorously growing healthy stocks having girth of 6cm at the collar region are

ideal for brown budding.

2. Brown budding done during April/May or August/September.

3. Buds found in the axils of fallen leaves alone are used for budding.

4. Brown/semi brown coloured bud wood having same age of stock seedlings

are good for brown budding

5. Budding should be done at 2.5cm above the collar region.

6. The bud patch should have approximately 5cm length and1.5 cm width.

7. Opening of bandage for ascertaining the success done after 21 days.

8. Pulling out may be done after 30days of bud grafting.

9. At the time of pulling out the girth of brown budded stumps should not

exceed 12cm at collar region.

10. The brown budded stumps should have straight, uncoiled root of minimum

35 cm length.

11. Cut back of brown budded plant should be done at a height of 5cm (Snag

length) above the upper end of the bud patch.

12. Bud failures after one round of budding have to be discarded.

6. Green budded poly bag plants

1. Raised in LDPE/HDPE poly-bags of size 45x18cm and 400 gauge thickness,

capable of holding 6 Kg of soil should be used for raising green budded /in situ

poly-bag plants.

2. Soil with clay-loam texture having good moisture and nutrient retention capacity

should be used for filling the bag.

3. Planting/cut back of in situ plants may be done by February so as to attain two-

whorl growth by June.

4. Plants should be vigorous and healthy, free from all diseases, leaves intact

without spots or dieback. At the time of transplanting plants should have 2-

whorl growth.

5. Girth of stump should be minimum 4.5cm at collar region.

6. Scion sprout on attainment of two-whorl stage should have 2 cms girth (0.7 cm

diameter) and above at the base.


whorl should be 7.

8. The height of green budded polybag plant (with green budded stumps planting)

should be minimum 40 cm above the soil core.

9. The height of green budded polybag plant (insitu planting) should be minimum

40 cm above the soil core.

10. The plants should be acclimatized, by removing shade before disposing for field

planting.

11. Prophylactic spraying with copper fungicide should be ensured before disposing

for field planting.

7. Brown budded polybag plants

1. LDPE/HDPE Polybags of size 50 x 25cm (lay flat) or 55 x 25 cm(lay flat) and capable

of holding 8 to 10Kg of soil should be used for raising brown budded ploy bag plants

of 2-3 whorl growth.

2. For poly bag plants of 4 -5 whorls, size of poly bags should be 65x35 (lay flat) or 60X

30cm(lay flat).

3. Soil with clay-loam texture having good moisture and nutrient retention capacity

should be used for filling the bag.

4. Planting in bags may be done either in November for 4-5 whorl growth or in January

for 2-3 whorl growth by June.

5. The budded stumps may be sorted according to size and planted in separate rows.

6. Poly-bag Plants should be vigorous and healthy, free from all diseases, leaves intact

without spots or dieback.

7. Girth of stump at collar region may not exceed 12cm at collar region.

8. Scion sprout on attainment of two-whorl stage should have 3 cm.girth at the base.


whorl should be 8.

10. The height of brown budded polybag plant should have minimum 45 cm above the

soil core.


planting.

12. Prophylactic spraying with copper fungicide should be ensured before disposing for

field planting.

8. Root trainer plants: -

1. Root trainers used for raising plants should have a minimum size of length of 26cm and

a holding capacity of 600cc.

2. The number of vertical ridges should be 6 for 600cc root trainer and 8 for 800cc.

3. The potting medium should be cured coir pith mixed with appropriate quantities of

fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides.

4. In situ seedlings for bud grafting or green budded stumps only permitted to grow in

600cc root trainers.

5. For raising brown budded plants root trainers of size 800cc should be used.

6. For air pruning of tap root the root trainer plants on attaining sufficient growth should

be removed from the soil and suspended in air for minimum 8 weeks.

7. Plants should be vigorous and healthy, free from all diseases, leaves intact without spots

or dieback. At the time of transplanting plants should have 2-whorl growth.

8. Girth of stump should be minimum 3 cm at collar region.

9. Scion sprout on attainment of two whorl stage should have 1.5 cm girth at the base.

10. The number of leaves in the first whorl should be minimum 6 and that of second whorl

should be 7.

11. The height of root trainer plant should have minimum 40 cm (two whorls, first whorl

minimum 15 cms length) from the bud union.


planting.

13. Prophylactic spraying with copper fungicide should be ensured before disposing for field

planting.

ANNEXURE III

Application form for Certification of Rubber Planting Materials

1. Name and address of the nursery :

2. Name and address of the owner :

3. Telephone (Land/Mob) :

4. E-mail

5. Location, Village, Taluk, District. :

6. Year of establishment of the nursery :

7. State the facilities available with nursery stipulated for

Certification. (Facilities 1 to 20–give the item by numbers :

9. Experience in nursery management (years) :

10. No. of approved clones in the bud wood nursery :

11. Total nursery area

12. Nature of ownership : Proprietary/Pvt. Ltd /Pub. Ltd

/RPS

Co-operative/SHG/Others

12. Proof of ownership over the nursery area :

13. Maintenance of registers stipulated for certification : Maintained/ not

maintained

:

15. Method of raising seedlings : Ground nursery/Direct seeding in

poly bags/RT Cups

16. Proposed seedlings production (Nos) :

a. Total area under seeding nursery (ha) :

b. If direct seeding, number of polybags and area :

c. Root trainers (Number and area) :

17. Total area under Bud Wood nursery (ha) :

18. Clone-wise number of Bud wood mother plants :

a. Methods adopted for maintaining identity : Sketch/labels

19. Specify the proposed type of budding : Young/Green/brown

22. Total area under polybag/Root trainer nursery (ha) :

24. Layout plan of the nursery : attached/ not attached

20. Specify the proposed type of planting materials : Polybag/Root trainer

21. Type – wise proposed volume of production of planting materials :

25. No. Poly bagged plants going to produce as per

stipulated specification for certification :

Type of [clone] planting materials

Polybag (Nos)

Root trainer (Nos)

a) To be certified by end of May (First) :

b) To be certified by end of July (Second) :

c)

d)

26. No. root trainer plants going to produce as per

stipulated specification for certification :

a. To be certified by end of May (First) :

b) To be certified by end of July (Second)

c)

d)

The details furnished in this application are true to the best of my knowledge.

Place Signature

Date: Name of Nursery owner