Lok Sabha Question No. 1293 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-18
Subject: Mechanical and Technological Intervention in Agriculture
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. 1293

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18/12/2018

## MECHANICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL INTERVENTION IN AGRICULTURE

## 1293.  SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI:

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

- (a) whether in order to face the challenges of growing population by the year 2020, mechanical and technological intervention is highly required in agriculture sector;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of estimated demand of foodgrains during the above said period;
- (d) whether the Government launched the research missions for integrated agricultural work to increase the production and productivity of foodgrains in the country; and
- (e) if so, the details along with the outcome thereof?

## 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 PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) Yes,  the  mechanical  and  technological  interventions  in  agriculture  sector  are  a must to face the challenges of growing population, to meet the requirement of food and fibre. These interventions are also required to reduce the post-harvest losses.
- (b) The major areas of mechanical and technological interventions are as follows:-
- (i) Genetic  enhancement  of  plants / animals / fish  for  higher  productivity under increased intensity of biotic and abiotic stresses

Genetic    enhancement    is    considered    to    be    a    major    option    to    bridge  the demand  and  supply  gap  under  normal  situations  as  well  under projected scenarios  of  increased  frequency   and  intensity  of  stresses.   In agriculture,

biotechnology has enabled the genetic alteration of crops, improved soil productivity, and enhanced natural weed and pest control. It  should,  however,  be understood  that  genetically  modified  organisms (GMOs) may help solve some very difficult problems such as salinity or drought,  but  they  do  not  present  a miracle  solution;  and  they  are  not automatically  synonymous  with  sustainable foods.  Emphasis is needed on green biotechnologies (concerning plants and their growing)  as  well  as  on  the  white  biotechnologies  (primarily  focusing  on  use  of biological organisms to produce or manipulate things).

In  the  livestock  and  fishery  sectors,  research  can  be  utilized  in the  frontier areas    like    stem    cells,    pharmacokinetics    and    nutrigenomics,  transgenic animals,    proteome    analysis,    siRNA    technology,    bio-sensor  applications, targeted  nano-delivery  of  drugs;  IVF-ETT,  etc.  can be gainfully  utilized  for strengthening  system  efficiency.  Some  important issues  for  investigation  are: livestock  genetic  improvement  using phenomics,  genomics  and  bioinformatics tools;    breeding    transgenic  animals    capable    of    producing    tailor-made milk/meat  to   cater    to    the  specific    needs;    understanding    of    the    basis    of genetic  resistance  in domestic  species  of  livestock  with  DNA  markers  for disease-resistant genes and the ability to diagnose specific genotypic markers that correlate  with    susceptible    and    resistant    phenotypes;    regenerative    medicine, micro-    electro-    mechanical    systems    (Bio-MEMS),    pharmacy-on-chip, implanted    body    regulator,    gene-based    preventive    medicine    and    bioelectronics;  efficient  nutrient  delivery  in  animals  through  application of  nanotechnology;    and    development    and    strengthening    of    bio-safety  capabilities. Cytogenetics and genotoxicity of fish and shellfish; extraction and characterization of bio-molecules having therapeutic and industrial significance;  identification  of  biosynthetic  gene  clusters  in  aquatic  bacteria  for production  of  novel  bioactive  compounds  are  some  other  frontier areas  for research.

Automation  of  fish  culture  system,  multitier  culture  systems,  Re-circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS), Renewable energy for fishing and processing industry are needed in the fisheries sector.

## (ii)  Productivity  enhancement  through  mechanization  of  agriculture  and  food system

The    end    objective    of    farm    mechanization    is    to    enhance    the    overall productivity  to  save  labour  and  automate  field  operations  for  lowering the cost  of  production  through  improved  timeliness  of  operations  and precision in the application of inputs; producing high quality and value- added  products; and  developing  and  saving  energy.  Intelligent  sensing and monitoring systems equipped with crop and bioinformatics will be the new innovations in machines used for different operations. Machines for  large-scale  precision  farming  green fishing  vessels'  will  have  to  be developed.  In  the  post-field  state,  logistics, large-scale    processing,    and  supply  chain  management  are  the  key  factors. Information technology in association with GIS and automation are set to make a major difference at  different  stages.  Optimization  of  production  systems  and farm  work  sites  with  vehicle  and  machine  systems  that  can  sense  and

control; systems that are capable of collecting, storing, and transferring information about the crop, field, and machine state at the time of field operation are  needed.

## (iii) Enhancing value, safety and income through food processing

Globally,  India  is  a  major  producer  of  fruits,  vegetables,  milk,  meat  and    fish, which  are  all  perishable  in  nature.  But  the  level  of  processing in India  is rather  low,  and  exists  in  unorganized  form  with  high  losses in supply chain. The focus is on increasing secondary, tertiary and quaternary processing levels to at least 50 per cent in the near future.

## (iv) Energy development and management

Energy is central to the economic growth in all the sectors including agriculture. In  view  of  the  dwindling  and  limited  availability  of  fossil fuels, plants which exist  through  photosynthesis  are  a  renewable  source  of    carbon.    Bio-fuels, therefore,    appear    to    be    part    of    the    solution    to  the    problem    of    energy shortage,  but  the  development  of  more  efficient bio-fuels  remains  a  crucial issue.    The    agricultural    fuel    resources    include  animal    manure    and    crop residues,  derived  primarily  from  maize,  corn, small  grains  and  seeds  of  oilbearing  plants  (e.g.  Jatropha).  In  India, bio-fuels  would  largely  be  based  on nonfood  crops  and  unused  crop materials  containing  lignocellulose  (stems and    leaves).    Therefore,  development    of    engineering    plants    of    different capacities,  using  waste material  with  lignocelluloses,  is  a  priority.  Researches in  solar  energy, aiming  at  increased  capture  of  solar  radiations  are  opening vast opportunities  for  increasing  availability  of  nonpolluting  energy  at  low cost.  In  future,  decentralized  solar  power  for  agricultural  applications like pumping  water,  drying  of  grain  and  fruits,  chilling  of  milk,  will  be  financially attractive  propositions.  The  adoption  of  these  technological  interventions  has potential to benefit the masses.

## (v)  Computational initiatives in agricultural research

Agricultural   research   is   becoming   highly   quantitative   and computational. Therefore,  high  performance  computing  (HPC)  is becoming  a  requirement for  manipulation  of  very  large  data  sets, particularly related to agricultural genomics,  proteomics,  geo-informatics  and    climate    change.    An    'Integrated National    Agricultural    Resources  Information    System'    (INARIS)    and 'Knowledge    Management    of  Agricultural    Research    and    Technologies' (KMART)  portals  have  been established.  But,  as  the  demand  for  national agricultural  portal  on  bio informatics  grid  (NABG)  grows,  creation  of  higher super-computing framework  is required.

## (vi) Innovations in technology transfer system

There    have    been    continuing  efforts  to  evolve  innovative  pathways  for disseminating  breakthroughs  in  technology  to  farmers  and  the  industry  such  as Agricultural  Technology  Management  Agency  (ATMA),  Agri-clinics,  Agri-

business  centres,  Krishi  Vigyan    Kendras,    E-chaupals,    etc.    The    rapidly extending  mobile  telephone  network  is  facilitating  the  shift  from  kiosk based information  dissemination  to  mobile-based  communication.  The bundling  of services  approach  such  as  insurance  and  credit  agencies participating  in  agro technologies  and  weather  advisory  service,  which has  been  successful  abroad, has  good  prospects.  Information  and communication  technology  (ICT)  with 3G  and  4G  technologies  which are  capable  of  delivering  detailed  text  and pictures    through    the    mobile  phones,    are  expected  to    revolutionalize    the technology  dissemination  process.

- (c) The details of estimated household demand of food grains during the year 2020 is as under:-

| Commodity         |   Estimated demand (in million metric tons per annum) |
|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| Rice              |                                                118.93 |
| Wheat             |                                                 92.37 |
| Other cereals     |                                                 15.57 |
| Pulses            |                                                 19.53 |
| Total Food grains |                                                246.4  |

Ref:

http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/bkpap2020/16\_bg2020.pdf (Food Nutrition and Security: Vision 2020 by R. Radhakrishna and K. Venkata Reddy )

- (d) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Department of Agricultural Research  and  Education,  under  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare, Government  of  India  is  mandated  to  (i)  Plan,  Undertake,  Coordinate  and  Promote Research and Technology Development for Sustainable Agriculture, (ii)  Aid, Impart and Coordinate Agricultural Education to enable Quality Human Resource Development (iii) conduct Frontline Extension for technology application, adoption, knowledge management and capacity development for agri-based rural development and (iv) provide Policy, Cooperation and Consultancy in Agricultural Research, Education & Extension.
- (e) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is the apex body for co-ordinating, guiding  and  managing  research  and  education  in  agriculture  including  horticulture, fisheries  and  animal  sciences  in  the  entire  country.  With  101  ICAR  institutes  and 71 agricultural  universities spread  across  the  country  this  is  one  of  the  largest  national agricultural  systems  in  the  world.  The  ICAR  has  played  a  pioneering  role  in  ushering Green  Revolution  and  subsequent  developments  in  agriculture  in  India  through  its research  and  technology  development  that  has  enabled  the  country  to  increase  the production of foodgrains by 5.4 times, horticultural crops by 10.1 times, fish by 15.2 times, milk 9.7 times and eggs 48.1 times since 1951 to 2017 ,  thus  making  a  visible impact  on  the  national  food  and  nutritional  security.  It  has  played  a  major  role  in promoting  excellence  in  higher  education  in  agriculture.  It  is  engaged  in  cutting  edge areas  of  science  and  technology  development  and  its  scientists  are  internationally acknowledged in their fields.

*******