Lok Sabha Question No. 857 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-07
Subject: Agricultural Research
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SHARAD TRIPATHI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 857

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/02/2017

## AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

## 857. SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI:

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/Indian  Council  for  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  have taken  various  steps  for  improvement  in  the  seeds  of  various  types  of  crops  like  pulses, foodgrains  and  oilseeds  so  as  to  achieve  self-sufficiency  in  the  production  of  these agricultural produce;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise along with the details of the allocations made by the Government for the said purpose during the last three years and the current year, year-wise;

- (c) whether  the  Government/ICAR  are  also  taking  various  steps  for  development  of various technology for producing high yielding seeds and soil conservation; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## 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  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  established  26 research institutes and implementing 22 All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) and 11 All India Network Research Projects (AINPs) for improvement in the seeds of various types of crops like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fibre crops, sugarcane and forage crops so as to achieve self-sufficiency in their production.  There is scheme-wise operationalization  of  ICAR  research  institutes  and  coordinated  and  network  research projects  associated  with  various  types  of  crops.    New  varieties  and  crop  management technologies  are  being  developed  for  improving  productivity  of  these  crops.    Funds  are provided to State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) for crop improvement, where AICRPs and  AINPs  are  located.    The  allocations  (Revised  Estimates)  of  Rs.375  crores,  Rs.380 crores, Rs.495 crores and Rs.436 crores were made for all the field crops related schemes of ICAR during 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 (till 17.01.2017), respectively.

(c) & (d): The  efforts  of  National  Agricultural  Research  System  (NARS)  under  the aegis of ICAR have led to the release of 569 high yielding crop varieties/hybrids including 321 of cereal crops, 89 of oilseeds, 71 of pulses, 39 of fibre crops, 31 of forage crops and 18 of sugarcane during the last four years (2013-2016).

Besides,  the  NARS  has  supplied  3.45  lakh  quintals  of  breeder  seeds  of  various crops  against  3.19  lakh  quintals  indent  received  from  various  central  and  state  seed producing  agencies  during  the  last  three  years  (2013-14  to  2015-16)  so  that  sufficient quantity  of  quality  seeds  of  improved  varieties/hybrids  could  be  made  available  to  the farmers to boost productivity and production.

The  ICAR  has  also  developed  several  technologies  for  soil  conservation  like conservation planting and check dams besides the technology for sand dune stabilization and shelter belt for soil conservation in the areas affected by wind erosion, etc.

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