Lok Sabha Question No. 5232 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Development of New Various Varieties of Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PANKAJ CHOWDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5232 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27/03/2018

## DEVELOPMENT OF NEW VARIOUS VARIETIES OF CROPS

## 5232.  SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  scientists  of  Indian  Agricultural  Research  Council  have  developed many new varieties of rice, maize, millet, wheat, sesame, mustard, vegetables and fruits enriched with high protein and nutrients;

(b) if so, the details thereof and whether it is a fact that farming of these varieties is not getting promoted due to lack of incentives;

(c) if so, whether the Government has any proposal to make a market chain of special crops, fruits and vegetables and to increase production and to give incentives to farmers; and

(d) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  nutrient  rich  agricultural products, fruits and vegetables to the poor?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) Yes, Madam.
- (b) Details of various bio-fortified varieties developed by ICAR during last three years

## Rice

1. CR Dhan 310: Contains 10.3% protein in polished grain as compared to 7.0-8.0% in popular varieties
2. DRR Dhan 45: High in zinc content (22.6 ppm) in polished grains in comparison to 12.0-16.0 ppm in popular varieties

## Wheat

3. WB - 2: Rich in zinc (42.0 ppm) and iron (40.0 ppm) in comparison to 32.0 ppm zinc and 28.0-32.0 ppm iron in popular varieties
4. HPBW 01: Contains  high  iron  (40.0  ppm)  and  zinc  (40.6  ppm)  in  comparison  to 28.0-32.0 ppm iron and 32.0 ppm zinc in popular varieties

## Maize

5. Pusa Vivek QPM9 Improved: High provitamin-A (8.15 ppm), lysine (2.67%) and tryptophan (0.74%) as compared to 1.0-2.0 ppm provitamin-A, 1.5-2.0% lysine and 0.3-0.4% tryptophan content in popular hybrids
6. Pusa  HM4  Improved: Contains  0.91%  tryptophan  and  3.62%  lysine  which  is significantly higher than popular hybrids (0.3-0.4% tryptophan and 1.5-2.0% lysine)
7. Pusa HM8 Improved: Rich in tryptophan (1.06%) and lysine (4.18%) as compared to 0.3-0.4% tryptophan and 1.5-2.0% lysine in popular hybrids
8. Pusa HM9 Improved: Contains 0.68% tryptophan and 2.97% lysine compared to 0.3-0.4% tryptophan and 1.5-2.0% lysine in popular hybrids

## Pearl millet

9. HHB-299: High iron (73.0 ppm) and zinc (41.0 ppm) as compared to 45.0-50.0 ppm iron and 30.0-35.0 ppm zinc in popular varieties/hybrids
10. AHB-1200: Rich  in  iron  (73.0  ppm)  in  comparison  to  45.0-50.0  ppm  in  popular varieties/hybrids

## Lentil

11. Pusa Ageti Masoor L 4717): Contains 65.0 ppm iron as compared to 55.0 ppm iron in popular varieties

## Indian mustard

12. Pusa Mustard 30: Contains low erucic acid (<2.0%) in oil as compared to >40% erucic acid in popular varieties
13. Pusa Double Zero Mustard 31 : Low erucic acid (<2.0%) in oil and glucosinolates (<30.0  ppm)  in  seed  meal  as  compared  to  >40.0%  erucic  acid  and  >120.0  ppm glucosinolates

## Cauliflower

14. Pusa  Beta  Kesari-1: Contains  high  β-carotene  (8.0-10.0  ppm)  in  comparison  to negligible β-carotene content in popular varieties

## Sweet potato

15. Bhu Sona: High β-carotene (14.0 mg/100 g) content as compared to 2.0-3.0 mg/100 g β- carotene in popular varieties
16. Bhu Krishna: High anthocyanin (90.0 mg/100g) content in comparison to popular varieties which have negligible anthocyanin content

## Pomegranate

17. Solapur Lal (NRCP H-6): High iron (5.6-6.1  mg/100g),  zinc  (0.64-0.69  mg/100g) and vitamin C (19.4 -19.8 mg/100 g) in fresh arils in comparison to 2.7-3.2 mg/ 100g, 0.50-0.54 mg/100g and 14.2-14.6 mg/100g, respectively in popular variety Ganesh

All these varieties have been released during last three varieties and have been put in the  seed  chain  which  may  take  2-3  years  in  production  of  certified/  quality  seed  in sufficient  quantity  for  commercial  cultivation  by  the  farmers.  Presently  promotion  of farming of these varieties is not affected due to incentives, though, incentives for such farm produce will definitely help in growing of such materials on larger areas helping in providing nutri-rich agriproducts to the masses.

- (c) ICAR  is  mandated  to  produce  the  breeder  seed  of  the  varieties  notified  in  the gazette  of  India.  As  per  the  breeder  seed  indent  provided  by  GOI,  ICAR  produces  the breeder seed which is further used for production of foundation and certified classes of seed as per seed production chain being followed in India. For facilitating the on farm demonstrations and faster dissemination of newly released varieties, test stock seeds are produced  by  National  Seed  Corporation  Limited  and  these  are  demonstrated  through Front  Line  Demonstrations  by  KVKs/ICAR  Institutes/  SAUs  and  other  agencies. Following  quantity  of  seed/planting  material  was  produced/made  available  for  seed multiplication/ commercial cultivation during 2017-18:

Rice-CR Dhan 310: Breeder seed - 16.5 q, TL seed - 13.12.q

Rice-DRR Dhan 45: Breeder seed: 25.9 q

Wheat-WB-2: Breeder seed-52.95 q, TL seed - 60.0 q

Wheat-HPBW-01: TL seed - 300.0 q

Pusa Mustard 30: Breeder seed-2.0 q, TL seed-3.1 q

Pusa Double Zero Mustard-31: Breeder seed-1.0 q, TL seed-3.0 q

Pusa Ageti Masoor (L 4717): Breeder seed-5.0 q

Sweet potato-Bhu Sona: 155000 vine cuttings

Sweet potato-Bhu Krishna: 82000 vine cuttings

Pomegranate-Solapur Lal: 24000 planting materials

At present there is no price difference between the biofortified and conventional varieties. A request has already been made to the Chairman, Commission for Agricultural Costs  and  Prices  and  Secretary,  DAC&FW,  MOA&FW,  Govt.  of  India  for  separate minimum  support  price  of  such  biofortified  varieties  so  that  the  farmers  are  attracted towards  production  of  these  varieties  for  easy  availability  to  the  consumers  in  larger areas.

(d) Inclusion of biofortified varieties of various crops in the public distribution system (PDS) and mid-day meal schemes in the schools will help in availability of such products to  poor  for  fighting  the  problem  of  malnutrition.  A  communication  has  already  been made to Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, GOI. Issue has also been taken up at NITI Ayog during the consultations on Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition and inclusion of millets in PDS.

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