Gubba Group Sets Up Seed Bank

Hyderabad: City-Based Group Ltd on Wednesday launched germplasm bank, the country first such facility in private sector, at Medchal on the city outskirts.

The company, a leading player in cold storage space with capacity of 90 lakh cubic feet, has invested Rs 4 crore in the new facility where seeds can be stored for a longer period. A germplasm is a collection of genetic resources for an organism.

For plants, the germplasm is stored as a seed collection at germplasm bank. “Every seed matters and preserving them is need of the hour in India.

The launch of germplasm bank in private sector is a reflection of our commitment to research and innovation using better technology to meet the challenges in seed preservation,” said Gubba Kiran, the company’s CEO.

The facility provides world class preservation and security standards for the most valuable seeds which can be stored for 5 to 40 years as long term preservation at -20 degrees Celsius temperature. It confirms to global quality standards including IGBC Green Building Factory norms.

The company partnered with Agri Business Incubator (ABI) and ICRISAT for technological support for the germplasm bank which has 107 highly secured lockers in two vaults.

“Germplasm banks play a crucial role in the conservation and use of biodiversity. They are important institutions, not just for the preservation of germplasm but also for its sustainable use,” Kiran added. The facility is also expected to generate and provide new scientific knowledge and information on ecosystems, species and genes.