Lok Sabha Question No. 4078 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Research on New Seeds of Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4078 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20/03/2018

## RESEARCH ON NEW SEEDS OF CROPS

## 4078.  SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA:

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

(a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  various  agricultural  research  institutes  working  in  the public  sector  have  found/developed  new  seeds  which  have  higher  production  rate  of foodgrains;

(b) if  so,  the  names  of  these  seeds  and  the  time  by  which  the  research  thereon  was completed by the said institutions along with the production rate of these seeds; and

(c) the quantum of these seeds made available for the farmers till December 2017?

## 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 GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) The Crop Science Division of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, through its 21 Research Institutes, 03 Bureaux, 02 National Research Centres, 02 Project Directorates,  22  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Projects  (AICRP)  and  10  Network Research  Projects,  and  with  active  collaboration  with  State  Agricultural  Universities (SAUs) is engaged in the development of improved crop varieties/ hybrids, cost-effective production  and  environment-friendly  crop  protection  technologies  to  enhance  crop productivity  and  ensure  food  and  nutritional  security  in  the  country.  The  Institutes  are located  in  different  parts  of  the  country  and  developing  the  area  specific  technologies. The AICRPs, which are coordinated and funded (75%) by ICAR are located in SAUs, also  have  the  mandate  of  developing  trait-specific  high  yielding  crop  varieties  and hybrids, suitable to specific areas/agro-climatic zones. As a result of these efforts, since 1969 till January 2018, 4723 improved field crop varieties have been developed which include 2415 of cereals, 797 of oil seeds, 891 of pulses, 154 of forage crops, 333 of fiber crops,  100  of  sugarcane  and  33  of  potential  crops.  Among  these,  highest  number  of varieties have been released in rice (1021), followed by wheat (395) and maize (330). Of these varieties, 1169 varieties are under seed chain (2016-17) and these are contributing

O.I.H.

immensely  towards  high  production  leading  to  national  food  security.  The  improved varieties have led to many fold increase in production rate (yield) of wheat and rice viz., from 668 kg/ha and 663 kg/ha in 1950-51 to 2404 kg/ha and 3093 kg/ha, respectively in 2015-16.

(b) From  May  2014  to  December,  2017,  645  varieties  of  different  field  crops comprising of  349 of cereals (Rice-165, Wheat- 48, Barley-9, Maize-65, Millets-62); 98 of  oilseeds  (Rapeseed  mustard-  28,  Soybean-16  Groundnut-15  Linseed-13  Sesame-6 Niger-5  Sunflower-8  Safflower-2  Castor-5);  89  of  pulses    (Mungbean-18,  Urdbean-6, Chickpea-23,  Lentil-11,  Pigeonpea-8,  Cowpea-7,  Fieldpea-9,  Rajmash-1,  Horsegram-5, Fababean-1,  Clusterbean-1  Mothbean-1);  73  of  commercial  crops  (Cotton-37,  Jute-7, Mesta-2,  Kenef-3,  Roselle-2,  Sunhemp-1,  Ramie-1,  Sugarcane-20);  36  of  forage  crops (Pearl  millet-4,  Forage  sorghum-4,  Cowpea-4,  Guinea  grass-3,  Oat-11,  Rice  bean-3, Lucerne-2, Napier x Bajra hybrid-1, Marvel Grass- 2, Grain Amranthus-1, Forage Sewan grass-1)  have  been  developed  by  National  Agricultural  Research  System  (NARS) through  AICRPs.  These  varieties  have  been  developed  for  different  agro-climatic conditions and sowing situations. Crop wise production rate (yield) ranges of different varieties are as follows: Rice (20.0-85.0 q/ha), wheat (18.0-63.0 q/ha), Barley (18.0-52.0 q/ha),  Maize  (32.0-117.0  q/ha),  Millets  (10.0-55.0  q/ha),  Oilseeds  (11.0-40.0  q/ha)  and Pulses (6.5-28.0 q/ha).

(c) Majority of these varieties have been put in seed chain. Breeder seed production of the varieties released during 2014-17 is as under:-

2015-16: 5777.82 q 2016-17: 7381.23 q 2017 (Kharif): 3979.66 q

The breeder seed is further used for production of foundation and certified seeds for commercial cultivation by the farmers.

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