Space and Staff Requirements of Seed Testing Laboratory
Sr.No | Particulars of Room | Size of room meters | Total Area ( Sq. meters) |
A | Rooms |
|
|
1 | Sample receipt and preparations room | 3 X 3.6 | 10.8 |
2 | Moisture Test room | 3 X 3.6 | 10.8 |
3 | Purity room | 6 X 6 | 36 |
4 | Germination room |
|
|
a | Walk-in-germinator | 1.8 X 2.4 | 4.3 |
b | Cabinet-type germinators | 3 X3.6 | 10.8 |
c | Sand Test room | 3 X3.6 | 10.8 |
d | Preparation room cum germination counting room | 4.5 X 6 | 27 |
5 | Seed Health test room ( 2 nos) | 4 X 6 | 27 |
6 | Special Tests | 6 X 6 | 36 |
7 | Sample Storage | 4.5 X 6 | 27 |
8 | Miscellaneous room and other office space ( 3 nos) | 3 X 3.6 | 32.4 |
|
| Total | 243.7 |
B | i) Green house ( Wire mesh enclosure) | 4.5 X 6 | 27 |
| ii) Glass house | 4.5 X 6 | 27 |
C | Grow – out test plot |
| o.5 ha |
The purity room, in particular, should have abundant natural non-large light. It should be preferred to locate windows in this section along the north side of the building. It would also be desirable that the bottom window panes open in a horizontal manner so that the air coming through the window will be deflected upward and not blow directly across the working table of the seed analyst. Windows should be screened on the outside to keep out insects and birds.
Staff:
The number of workers in the seed testing laboratory should be related to the number of samples, crop species to be handled and kind of tests to be performed. The following criterion may serves as a guideline for a laboratory handling, 10,000 samples per year.
Sr.No | Position | No of Staff |
1 | Officer In charge | 1 |
2 | Senior Seed Analysis |
|
| i) Purity | 1 |
| ii) Germination | 1 |
| iii) Special Health | 1 |
| iii) Special Test, e.g Varietal Purity | 1 |
3 | Junior Seed Analysts |
|
| i) Purity | 2 |
| ii) Germination | 2 |
| iii) Seed Health | 1 |
| iv) Special Tests | 1 |
4 | Laboratory Asstts. ( one for each of the Analysts) | 10 |
5 | Laboratory Attendants ( one for each room ) | 4 |
6 | Accounts Officer | 1 |
7 | Accounts clerk | 2 |
8 | Store keeper | 1 |
9 | Refrigeration Mechanic ( Foreman) | 1 |
10 | Peons | 2 |
The need for additional hands is invariably felt during the peak season. This need should be met by employing graduate students on daily wage basis.