CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR PEA SEEDS

Waikato Independent, Volume XLV, Issue 6234, 4 May 1949, Page 5

CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR PEA SEEDS

The certification of field pea seeds, in a manner similar to that adopted- for pasture seeds in New Zealand, is planned by the Department of Agriculture. The small seeds advisory committee- of the department has proposed such,, a scheme following a request for certifiea"tion made by the agriculture section council of Federated Farmers. The Director-General of Agriculture has notified the federation that w'hile this was not an opportune time to introduce a certification for garden pea seeds, the agronomy division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research had already commenced an investigation into types and strains of both blue and partridge peas with the intention of building up a supply of selected material of those varieties. When that material was. available it was proposed to introduce a scheme of certification covering both types of field peas. The action of Federated Farmers in asking for the introduction of a certifies: tion scheme arose partly from the recent sale by some merchants of poor quality pea seeds to Australia. Many complaints were received from New South Wales and it was felt that a certification scheme woulcf be of protection to both New Zealand growers and overseas buyers./