Lok Sabha Question No. 4163 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-28
Subject: Shortage of Agricultural Scientists
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4163

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28/03/2017

## SHORTAGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENTISTS

## 4163. SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

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

- (a) the  various  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  expediting  the  agricultural research work in the country;
- (b) the  various  tasks  undertaken  by  the  Government  under  the  agricultural research during the last three years and the current year;
- (c) whether there is any shortage of agriculture scientists in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the remedial action proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## A N S W E R

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

## (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a) & (b): The details are given in the enclosed Annexure .

(c) There  is  no  shortage  of  agricultural  scientists  in  the  Indian  Council  of Agricultural Research.

(d) & (e): Question does not arise.

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## Annexure

## [Part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha USQ No.4163 for 28/03/2017]

## THE STEPS/ TASKS TAKEN/ UNDERTAKEN FOR EXPEDITING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH DURING the LAST THREE YEARS (2014-15- 2016-17)

The  National  Agricultural  Research  System  (NARS),  which  serves  the  agricultural technology  and  information  needs  the  country,  has  created  a  research  network  of  102  ICAR Research Institutes, 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) and 69 Agricultural  Universities  (including  3  Central  Agricultural  Universities  and  5  Universities  with Agriculture Faculty) spread across the country. DARE/ICAR has also established a network of 668 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) district-wise in the country aiming at assessment and demonstration of technologies/ products developed under NARS and their dissemination among the farmers and line departments through their district level front line demonstration and training programmes. The system has developed excellence in several frontier areas of agricultural sciences in terms of technology generation and dissemination, and human resource development that have contributed very significantly towards the growth of Indian agriculture. The research programmes under the umbrella of the DARE/ICAR are designed and undertaken with a view to ensuring food and  nutritional  security  to  all  our  fellow  citizens  and  to  ensure  livelihood  security  among  the farming community. By adopting a path of science and technology led growth of its agriculture, India has reaped dividends in the form of a strong, self-reliant and resilient food security situation and the productivity of these crops has also increased positively over the years.

Keeping  in  tune  with  the  priorities  for  the  agriculture  sector  development,  set  by  the Government, the DARE/ICAR has given focused attention towards developing technologies for 'more  crop  per  drop',  safeguard  soil-health,  promotion  of  mechanization  of  small  farms  and increase pulses and oilseeds production, for a strong 'Lab-to-Land' programme with Community Radio  and  ICT  linkages.  The  Council  is  addressing  these  aspects  through  research  integration, need-based  education  and  inclusive  frontline  extension  programmes.  The  efforts  with  National Innovations  on  Climate  Resilient  Agriculture (NICRA)  have  set  an  example  with  over  623 Contingency Plans, duly addressing the monsoon concerns in agriculture at district level. These district level contingency plans, which are updated from time to time with the involvement of all the stakeholders, have helped us in withstanding the impact of the unprecedented floods, draughts and  the  cyclones.  During  these  events,  the  institutes  and  scientists  of  the  Indian  Council  of Agricultural Research  (ICAR)  stood  by  the  farmers  with technological  backstopping  and advisories.

During past 3 years (2014-16), the efforts of NARS under the aegis of ICAR have led to the release of 463 high yielding crop varieties/ hybrids including 251 cereal crops, 74 of oilseeds, 63 of pulses, 36 of fibre crops, 27 of forage crops and 12 of sugarcane. Draft sequence of bread wheat genome has also been deciphered by our scientists.

In  the  area  of  horticulture  314  improved  varieties,  136  hybrids,  337  vegetable  production technologies, 211 Integrated Pest Management and 167 seed production technologies have been developed by ICAR during past 3years.  The improved varieties/ hybrids of vegetables developed are not only able to give 20-25 per cent higher yield but are also resistant to important pests & diseases.

In  animal  sciences,  3  strains  of  the  poultry  viz. Kamrupa a  multi-coloured  bird  suitable  for rural  poultry  production  in  assam; Narmadanidhi an  improved  variety  of  chicken  for  Vindhya region  and Jharsim a  dual  purpose  variety  of  chicken  to  be  reared  in  Jharkhand  area  were developed and distributed among the farmers.  Major breakthroughs were also achieved in buffalo cloning  with  the  production  of  cloned  calves  Lalima  and  Rajat  by  Hand  Guided  Cloning Technique. Three classical swine fever vaccine strains; peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) and Sungri/96 strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were also developed by ICAR. In fisheries technologies, a major breakthrough was achieved in breeding and seed production of the milkfish ( Chanos chanos) ,  in  captivity,  for  the  first  time  in  country.  The  fish  species is  highly suited for culture  in  different  salinity  in  brackish  water  and  inland  saline  ponds.    Round  the  year,  seed availability of Indian major carps was achieved through multiple breeding.

Under Natural Resources Management, following key technologies were developed by ICAR during past 3 years:

-  Bioengineering measures of soil & water conservation to check water erosion and enhance productivity and profitability of degraded lands.
-  Reclamation technology and salt tolerant varieties of rice, wheat and mustard for rehabilitation of lands affected by salinity and sodicity.
-  Subsurface Drainage for Management of Waterlogged Saline Soils
-  Resource conservation technologies (RCTs) to conserve natural resources and save expenditure on inputs (fertilizers, water), labour, and energy besides mitigating adverse impact of climate change.
-  Biofertilizers to supplement costly chemical fertilizers.
-  Developed digital soil test kit (Mini Lab/Mridaparikshak).
-  Technological backstopping to promote organic farming in the country.
-  Integrated Farming System(IFS) models
-  Multipurpose Rubber Dam for Water Harvesting in Watersheds

In farm  mechanization,  facilities in the advanced  areas  of  sensor based  precision agriculture, real-time input management, decision support systems, computerized databases, webbased applications, non-destructive quality evaluation, machine vision applications in agriculture, renewable  energy  applications,  protected  cultivation,  storage,  post-harvest  processing  and  value addition of agricultural commodities etc. have been developed and also established around 45 agro processing centres (APCs) in production catchment, for processing and value addition to farm produce.  The  details  of  the  key  technologies  in  agricultural  engineering  developed  and commercialized during last three years are given below:

-  Cryogenic spice grinding system
-  Ginger processing technology (Dried ginger flakes, sweetened flakes, Powder, and Ginger Paste)
-  Technology for minimal processing of vegetables
-  Pearl millet based composite extrudates and pasta
-  Groundnut flavoured beverage, curd and paneer
-  Process of manufacturing mix for ready to constitute Makhana kheer
-  Knowhow for construction of ICAR-CIPHET Evaporative Cooled Storage Structure (5-7 tonne capacity)
-  A process of separating a compound containing allylisothiocynate from mustard seed
-  Process for making beetroot shreds  and powder

-  Low fat meat emulsion and process for making the same
-  Processing of Aonla for manufacturing of value added products
-  Dried onion flakes and powder
-  Process for making green chili puree & powder

In  the  area  of  front  line  extension  of  various  Agricultural  Technologies  amongst  farming community  and  the  state  line  departments,  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  are  playing  a pioneering  role.  Thirty  one  (31)  new  KVKs  were  established  by  the  ICAR  during  past  3  years taking the total number of KVKs in the country upto 668. In addition, three new ATARIs were also created taking the numbers of ATARIs to 11. Due to the training programmes conducted by KVKs on improved technologies related to agriculture and allied fields, have benefited the farmers all over the country, both in terms of increased crop production and improved farm income.  The training  programmes  also  resulted  in  entrepreneurship  development  through  agriculture  related enterprises among the rural youth and farmers, viz. nursery management, protected cultivation of flowers and vegetables, dairying, goat and poultry farming, sericulture, production of vermicompost etc.    The  successful  technological  interventions  identified  by  KVKs  through  onfarm testing and frontline demonstrations are being up-scaled for the spread of the technologies to large number of farmers in the district by the respe4ctive KVK and also organizing the extension activities like technology week in the demonstration farm of KVK for exposure of farmers to the improved technologies of agriculture.

To  promote  digital  agriculture,  dedicated  mobile  app  for  rice  (riceXpert)  and  a  web-based application, pulse Expert were developed. A dedicated KVK Portal has been launched with user interface to enable monitoring and management of KVKs.

During past 3 years, ICAR has launched various innovative schemes Farmers FIRST, Student READY (Rural Entrepreneurship Development Yojana), ARYA (Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture), and Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav, unique initiatives of ICAR towards entrepreneurship development of agricultural graduates and improving technology dissemination.

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