Lok Sabha Question No. 3137 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Research on Agricultural Technology
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SRINIVAS KESINENI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3137

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 21/03/2017

## RESEARCH ON AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY

## 3137.  SHRI KESINENI NANI:

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

- (a) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  purpose  of  agricultural  research  in  the country;
- (b) whether any advances/achievements in agricultural technology have been made in any of the agricultural research institutes in the country during the last three years, if so, details thereof;
- (c) whether  these  advances  have  been  adopted  by  farmers  in  the  country,  if  not,  the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  import  agricultural  technology  from  other countries?

## 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) The  agricultural  research  in  the  country  is  primarily  undertaken  by  the  Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), which serves the technology, and information needs the country. With 102 ICAR research institutes, (including 4 deemed universities), 11 Agricultural Technology application Research Institutes (ATARIs) and 69 Agriculture Universities (including 3 Central Agricultural Universities and  5 Universities with Agriculture  Faculty)  spread  across  the  country,  National  Agriculture  Research  System (NARS) is the largest national agricultural research and education system in the world. In order to assess and demonstrate the production potential of agricultural technologies and farm practices on farmer's field the ICAR has established a network of 668 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) district-wise in the country aiming at assessment and demonstration of technologies/  products  and  its  dissemination  through  number  of  extension  programmes including  training  of  farmers  to  update  their  knowledge  and  skill.    The  system  has developed  excellence  in  several  frontier  areas  of  agricultural sciences  in  terms  of technology  generation  and  dissemination,  and  human  resource  development  that  have

contributed  significantly  towards  spectacular  growth  of  Indian  agriculture.  The  research programmes under the umbrella of the ICAR are designed and undertaken for harnessing power of science that  ensures food, nutrition and livelihood security for all.   It has  also played  a  major  role  in  promoting  excellence  in  higher  agricultural  education.    NARS  is engaged in cutting-edge science and technology development, and the contributions made by NARS are widely acknowledged both within the country and outside.

(b) & (c): Through the adoption of the improved varieties and the agro techniques, the production and productivity over past decades has registered a phenomenal growth.

1. The  efforts  of  NARS  under  the  aegis  of  ICAR  have  led  to  the  release  of  463  high yielding crop varieties/ hybrids including 251 cereal crops, 74 of oilseeds, 63 of pulses, 36 of fibre crops, 27 of forage crops and 12 of sugarcane during the last three  years (2014-16). By adopting a path of science and technology led growth of its agriculture, India  has  reaped  dividends  in  the  form  of  a  strong,  self-reliant  and  resilient  food security situation and the productivity of these crops has also increased positively over the years.
2. In  the  area  of  horticulture  314  improved  varieties,  136  hybrids,  337  vegetable production  technologies,  211  Integrated  Pest  Management  and  167  seed  production technologies  have  been  developed.    The  improved  varieties/  hybrids  of  vegetables developed are not only able to give 20-25 per cent higher yield but are also resistant to important pests & diseases.
3. In fisheries, a major breakthrough was achieved in breeding and seed production of the milkfish ( Chanos chanos) , in captivity, for the first time in country. The fish species is highly suited for culture in different salinity in brackish water and inland saline ponds. Round the year seed availability of Indian major carps was achieved through multiple breeding.
4. In animal sciences, 3 strains of the poultry viz. Kamrupa a multi-coloured bird suitable for  rural  poultry  production  in  assam; Narmadanidhi an  improved  variety  of  chicken for  Vindhya  region  and Jharsim a  dual  purpose  variety  of  chicken  to  be  reared  in Jharkhand area were developed and distributed among the farmers. Major breakthroughs  were  also  achieved  in  buffalo  cloning  with  the  production  of  cloned calves Lalima and Rajat by Hand Guided Cloning Technique.
5. In  the  area  of  Natural  Resources  Management  also,  following  key  technologies  have been developed by ICAR during past 3 years:

-  Bio-engineering measures of soil & water conservation to check water erosion and enhance productivity and profitability of degraded lands.
-  Reclamation technology and salt tolerant varieties of rice, wheat and mustard for rehabilitation of lands affected by salinity and sodicity.
-  Subsurface Drainage for Management of Waterlogged Saline Soils
-  Resource  conservation  technologies  (RCTs)  to  conserve  natural  resources  and save  expenditure  on  inputs  (fertilizers,  water),  labour,  and  energy  besides mitigating adverse impact of climate change.
-  Biofertilizers to supplement costly chemical fertilizers.
-  Developed digital soil test kit (Mini Lab/Mridaparikshak).
-  Technological backstopping to promote organic farming in the country.
-  Integrated Farming System(IFS) models
-  Multipurpose Rubber Dam for Water Harvesting in Watersheds
6. In  farm  mechanization,  facilities  in  the  advanced  areas  of  sensor  based  precision agriculture,  real-time  input  management,  decision  support  systems,  computerized databases, web-based applications, non-destructive quality evaluation, machine vision applications in agriculture,  renewable  energy  applications,  protected  cultivation, storage,  post-harvest  processing  and  value  addition  of  agricultural  commodities  etc. have been developed and also established around 45 agro processing centres (APCs) in production catchment,  for  processing  and  value  addition  to  farm produce.  The details of the key technologies in agricultural engineering developed and commercialized during last three years are given below:-
-  Beetroot Powder making technology
-  Mechanized system for popping and decortications of makhana seeds
-  Cryogenic spice grinding system
-  Ginger processing technology (Dried ginger flakes, sweetened flakes, Powder, and Ginger Paste)
-  Technology for minimal processing of vegetables
-  Pearl millet based composite extrudates and pasta
-  Groundnut flavoured beverage, curd and paneer
-  Process of manufacturing mix for ready to constitute makhana kheer
-  Knowhow  for  construction  of  ICAR-CIPHET  Evaporatively  Cooled  Storage Structure (5-7 tonne capacity)
-  Minimal Processing of Vegetables
-  A process of separating a compound containing allylisothiocynate from mustard seed
-  Process for making beetroot shreds  and powder
-  Potato Peeler cum Washer
-  Low fat meat emulsion and process for making the same
-  Processing of Aonla for manufacturing of value added products
-  Groundnut flavoured beverage, curd and paneer
-  Dried onion flakes and powder
-  Process for making green chili puree & powder

7. In  the  area  of  front  line  extension  of  various  Agricultural  Technologies  amongst farming community and the state line departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are playing a pioneering role. Due to the training programmes conducted by KVKs on improved technologies related to agriculture and allied fields, have benefited the farmers  all  over  the  country,  both  in  terms  of  increased  crop  production  and improved farm income.  The training programmes also resulted in entrepreneurship development  through  agriculture  related  enterprises  among  the  rural  youth  and farmers, viz. nursery management, protected cultivation of flowers and vegetables, goatry, diary management, poultry farming, sericulture, production of vermicompost etc.  The successful technological interventions identified by KVKs through  on-farm  testing  and  frontline  demonstrations  are  being  up-scaled  for  the spread  of  the  technologies  to  large  number  of  farmers  in  the  district  by  the respective KVK and also organizing the extension activities like technology week in the demonstration farm of KVK  for  exposure  of  farmers to the  improved technologies of agriculture.

(d) The Government is not focusing on importing the Agricultural from other countries. However,  the  ICAR  has  developed  research  collaborations  with  many  agriculturally advanced countries to integrate the advances made in various frontier areas of Agricultural Research  in  these  countries  to  benefit  our  country.    In  addition,  strong  collaborative programmes in various advanced areas of agricultural research have also been developed with the CGIAR based Institutions working in the country.

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