Lok Sabha Question No. 2586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-01
Subject: Climate Friendly Varieties of Paddy
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KUNWAR SARVESH  KUMAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2586 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01/08/2017

## CLIMATE FRIENDLY VARIETIES OF PADDY

## 2586.  KUNWAR SARVESH KUMAR:

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

(a) the findings of research work conducted by India Agriculture Research Institute, Manipur centre with regard to climate friendly varieties of Paddy;

(b) whether  there  is  any  report  with  the  Government  containing  details  regarding climate friendly varieties of Paddy;

(c) if so, the details of such varieties developed and the actual production of rice from the same; and

(d) the details of action plan of the Government with regard to marketing of seeds of such varieties of paddy?

## 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 SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a) The ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya along with its centre at Manipur and other centres in NEH region and Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur are engaged in development of improved rice varieties for the region. The new varieties are  identified  through  a  stringent  process  of  multilocation  testing  of large number of varieties for three years under open field conditions exposed to climatic variations,  hence  all  varieties,  thus  developed,  are  climate  friendly.  So  far,  40  rice varieties have been released for the NEH region by these institutions.

(b) The information  of  varieties  is  available  in  gazette  notification  of  Government, annual reports of Department of Agricultural Research & Education, ICAR-institutes and State Agricultural Universities. The information of released varieties is also available on Seednet India Portal (seednet.gov.in).

(c) The  National  Agricultural  Research  System  (NARS)  comprising  the  ICAR, Central  and  State  Agricultural  Universities  (SAUs)  is  involved  in  the  development  of climate  friendly  rice  varieties  with  emphasis  on  tolerance  to  flood/water  logging  and drought conditions also. With the continued concerted research efforts of NARS, a total of 153 rice varieties /hybrids have been released including climate resilient varieties for cultivation under different agro-climatic conditions during 2014-2017 (till May).  These varieties help in enhancing the rice production. The country has recorded ever highest production  (109.14  m  tonnes)  of  rice  during  2016-17  with  significant  contribution  of climate friendly varieties.

(d) The ICAR along with SAUs undertake breeder seeds production programme of rice varieties in a planned way through AICRP-NSP (Crops) and ICAR Seed Project as per indent of DoAC&FW to ensure the availability of quality seed to the farmers. A total of 22885.5, 23312.7 and 20402.2 quintals of breeder seeds of rice were produced during 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, respectively .

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