Lok Sabha Question No. 236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: New Agriculture Technologies
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 236

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18/07/2017

## NEW AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES

## 236. SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA:

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

- (a) the details of new  technologies which  are being developed  for agricultural advancement and doubling the income of farmers in the next five years; and
- (b) the targets set/achieved so far?

## 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) DARE/ICAR  has  developed  596  high  yielding  climate  resilient  crop  varieties/ hybrids of field crops for cultivation in different agro-ecologies of the country during past 3  years.  During  2016-17  alone  record  313  field  crop  varieties,  51  horticultural  crop varieties, 51 new farm implements, 3 vaccines, 15 diagnostic kits and breeding technology for two new fish species developed. Nutrient rich (zinc, iron, protein) varieties viz., DRR Dhan 45 (18.18 ppm Zinc) and CRR Dhan 310 (10.3% protein) of rice; WB-2 (42 PPM Zinc and 40 PPM Fe) and HPBW-01 (40.6 PPM Zinc and 40.6 Fe) of wheat, Pusa Mustard 30  (zero  erucic  acid)  and  Pusa  Mustard  31  (Double  zero)  of  Indian  mustard  have  been developed. Rice variety IR-64 Drt-1 (DRR Dhan 42) resistant to drought and Samba Sub-1 tolerant  to  submergence  has  been  developed.  IPM  205-7  (Virat),  an  extra-early  (52-55 days)  maturing  summer  mungbean  variety,  first-of-its-kind  globally,  developed.  Being short  duration  variety,  it  will  help  in  increasing  the  cropping  intensity  and  diversify  the rice-wheat cropping system. Pusa Basmati 1609, Pusa Basmati 1509, Pusa Basmati 1637 and  Pusa  Basmati  1728  have  been  developed  by  using  new  biotechnological  tools. Developed 51 new equipment/technologies/products and processes; 219 new prototypes for farm  machinery/new  farm  implements;  established  51  agro  processing  centres;  and supplied  16500  units  of  multiplied  prototypes,  in  the  frontier  areas  of  agricultural

engineering with great potential to increase productivity, reduce cost of cultivation, reduce drudgery, improve value addition, conserve resources, provide alternate means for energy generation. Demonstrated production potential of new technologies of pulses, oilseed and other crops through 3.21 lakh frontline demonstrations in farmers' field. Skill development of 40.9 lakh farmers and rural youth. Produced and provided 8.79 lakh quintal seed, 12.52 crore planting material and 9.09 crore livestock strains and fingerlings to farmers. Provided agro mobile advisory to 3.95 crore farmers for improved decision-making. Established 150 pulses  seed  hubs  to  produce  quality  seeds  of  important  pulse  crops  and  production  of additional  quantity  of  breeder  seed  of  different  pulses  was  undertaken  to  attain  selfsufficiency in pulses.  Established 38 on-station Integrated Farming System (IFS) models and refined 63 existing IFS in 14 agro-climatic regions. All these efforts complement the Government's  efforts to double the farmers' income by 2022.

(b) DARE/ ICAR has set targets, both for short and long term for complementing the efforts  of  the  Govt.  by  providing  technology  back up for achieving the goal of doubling farmer's  income.  Targets  for  next  2  years  include,  evaluation  of  20000  germplasm    and breeding lines and conservation of 4000 Germplasm for  long term storage, conservation of 200 microbial genetic resources, to identify  30 genotypes and register  for unique traits, clone  and  characterize  10  genes,    testing  2000  entries  in  AICRP  multi-location  trials, identification of 40 varieties including pulses and oilseeds by AICRP varietal identification committees,  production  of  56000  quintal  Breeder  seed,  developing  and  testing  25  new technologies,  conducting  10000  front  line  demonstrations  and  organizing  220  farmers' trainings.

In horticulture sciences targets for next 2 years include, collection of  400 germplasms and  characterization  of  500  germplasms,  development  of  100  pre-breeding lines,  Identification  of  60  promising/elite  breeding  lines,  release  of  30  varieties/hybrids, standardization of 50 production technologies, organization of 155 frontline demonstrations,  developing  167  modules  for  capacity  building  of  farmers  and  other stakeholders, production of 2261 kg breeders/truthfully levelled  seed, production of 2250 tonne breeders  seed of tuber crops and production of 12.5 lakh quality planting materials and 5 lakh rooted cuttings.

Targets have also been set for soil inventory and characterization (1:10,000 scale), designing and developing of organic farming package of practices, designing, developing and demonstration of climate resilient technologies, designing and developing technologies  for  managing  soil  health  and  designing,  developing  and  testing  of  3 technologies for Irrigation water Management.  Separate targets have been set for animal sciences, fisheries sciences, agricultural engineering, agricultural education and agricultural extension also.

All these targeted activities are likely to increase the production and productivity of agricultural crops and other enterprises, add value to the produce, reduce cost of production and increase profit margins for the farmers.

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