Lok Sabha Question No. 279 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Promotion of Hybrid Seeds
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

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

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 279 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21/03/2017

## PROMOTION OF HYBRID SEEDS

## *279. SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

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

(a) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  promote  various  varieties  of refined hybrid  seeds for diverse  agricultural  climatic  areas  in  order  to  tackle  the global climate change which has an adverse impact on cultivation and if so, the details thereof; and

(b) the  manner  in  which  these  hybrid  seeds  are  likely  to  prove  helpful  in tackling the problems arising out of global climate change?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k ,oa fdlku dY;k.k ea=h (SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH)

(a) and (b) :  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) and (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 279 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21/03/2017 REGARDING 'PROMOTION OF HYBRID SEEDS'

(a) Yes, Madam.  The development of hybrids in various field and horticultural crops is  a  continuous  process  and  issue  of  global  climate  change  is  being  addressed  while developing and evaluating the new  varieties and hybrids. In ICAR  the hybrid development  programme  is  in  operation  in  crops  like  rice,  wheat,  maize,  pearl  millet, sorghum, pigeonpea, mustard, castor, sunflower, safflower, cotton and various vegetable crops.  The  research  and  development  activities  of  hybrids/varieties  development  and evaluation are coordinated by the All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) of respective crops which have sufficient number of locations in different agro-ecological zones of the country.  Testing of the material is done under various situations like early and late sown (temperature), rainfed, salinity conditions etc. which are the components of climate change. As these materials are being tested under the target environment, hence only  better  performing  material  is  considered  for  further  promotion  during  evaluation process  which  are  finally  released  for  commercial  cultivation.  During  2013-2016  total 130 hybrids have been released in different field crops viz., Rice (25), Pearl millet (25), Sorghum (9), Maize (52), Cotton (8), Pigeonpea (2), Sunflower (5), Safflower (1), Castor (2) and forage crop (1). In addition 148 hybrids have been released in different vegetable crops  during  the  past.  Seed  of  these  hybrids  including  other  popular  hybrids  released earlier is being produced for commercial cultivation in diverse agro-climatic conditions prone to various biotic and abiotic stresses.

(b) The  hybrids  in  general  have  better  resilience  to  climate  changes.  As  hybrids generally  have  10-20  per  cent  higher  yields  over  the  prevailing  popular  varieties  of respective crops, hence, hybrids are higher yielder in comparison to the varieties and are doing better  in  all  the  crops  where  hybrids  are  available.  As  far  as  the  issue  of  global climate  change  is  concerned,  the  evaluation  of  hybrids  is  done  in  target  environment, hence, these are supposed to be better performer under the changing climatic conditions.

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