Lok Sabha Question No. 6177 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-11
Subject: Research on Grain Legumes
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: DHARMENDRA YADAV, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, Shrirang Appa Barne, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, NAGARAJAN P., GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6177 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11/04/2017

## RESEARCH ON GRAIN LEGUMES

6177.  SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI P. NAGARAJAN:

SHRI C. GOPALA KRISHNAN:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  set  up  a  Food  Legumes  Research Platform  (FLRP)  in  several  States  including  Madhya  Pradesh  with  the  help  of  the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA);
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the benefits/advantages likely to be derived out of the proposed FLRP and the financial process thereunder;
- (c) whether  there  has  been  any  collaboration  or  agreement  signed  between  Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to work together on crop improvement and agronomy programmes for grain/legumes and dry land cereals and if so, the details thereof including crops  identified  for  research  and  the  extent  to  which  the  small  farmers  are  likely  to  be benefited therefrom; and
- (d) the steps taken/being 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) Cabinet has approved establishment of Food Legumes Research Platform (FLRP) at Amlaha, Sehore, Madhya Pradesh with the Satellite Hubs in West Bengal (for Pulses) and Rajasthan (for Natural Resource Management) by International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) on 15 th  February, 2017.

(b) The establishment  of  FLRP  will  enable  India  to  harness  the  best  of  International technology  in  meeting  some  of  the  emerging  food  security  challenges  particularly  in pulses.  Investment  will  be  made  by  ICARDA  for  development  of  research  and  farm facilities including manpower.

(c) Yes, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Collaborative Work-Plan has been signed on 15.03.2017.  Seven ICAR-ICRISAT collaborative research projects have been finalized for  crop  improvement  and  agronomy  research.    Accordingly,  chickpea,  pigeonpea, groundnut, pearl millet, finger millet and sorghum have been focussed for research. Since all these six targeted crops are mostly grown under rainfed conditions by small farmers, the research  achievements  will  help  in  increasing  yields  of  these  crops  and  in  turn  enhance income of small farmers.

(d) Crop  based  ICAR  Institutes  and  State  Agricultural  Universities  working  under National  Agricultural  Research  System(NARS)  are  working  with  these  two  institutes  to develop new varieties  and validation of technologies.

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