The Indian Council for Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (ICAR-IIHR) has partnered with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to establish a seed testing facility with extensive automation.

The new facility, which more than doubles IIHR seed processing capacity to around 100 tonnes from the current 40 tonnes per year, was inaugurated by ICAR Director-General Himanshu Pathak.

The new facility will enhance the availability of a large quantity of quality seeds of ICAR-IIHR bred vegetable and flower crop varieties/hybrids and help expand its market share.

IIHR sells about 60 per cent of its seeds online to places including the hilly regions of North East.

Pathak said the IIHR-HAL collaboration was the first of its kind between the ICAR institution and the industry and there will be many more such partnerships going forward.

ICAR has decided to collaborate with the private sector and plans to take up joint projects in the areas of research, education and extension.