Lok Sabha Question No. 1730 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: New Varieties of Crops by ICAR
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1730 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02/07/2019

## NEW VARIETIES OF CROPS BY ICAR

## 1730.  SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

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

- (a) whether  the  ICAR  has  developed  and  released  certain  new  varieties  of  various crops during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, year-wise; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government/ICAR for raising crop  yields,  increasing  their nutrition level and developing climate resilient crop varieties and also for attracting youth in farm sector?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (c): Yes, Sir. During last three years (2016-2018), the ICAR has developed and released 886 high yielding, eco-friendly, improved quality, agro-climatic zone specific field crop varieties of various crops through its Institutes, All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) and State Agricultural Universities  as per the details given below:-

| Crops       |   Year-wise no. of varieties |   Year-wise no. of varieties |   Year-wise no. of varieties |       |
|-------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|-------|
| Crops       |                         2016 |                         2017 |                         2018 | Total |
| Cereals     |                          152 |                          116 |                          200 | 468   |
| Oilseeds    |                           50 |                           28 |                           49 | 127   |
| Pulses      |                           43 |                           32 |                           47 | 122   |
| Fibre Crops |                           33 |                           15 |                           29 | 77    |
| Forages     |                           20 |                            8 |                           28 | 56    |
| Sugarcane   |                            9 |                            8 |                           18 | 35    |
| Others      |                            0 |                            0 |                            1 | 01    |
| Total       |                          307 |                          207 |                          372 | 886   |

Efforts were made to breed bio-fortified varieties wherein 35 bio-fortified varieties of different crops viz., wheat (11), rice (6), maize (4), pearl millet (5), lentil (2), mustard (2),  soybean  (1)  and  horticultural  crops  (4)  have  been  released  with  higher  nutritional quality. Moreover, among these 886 varieties/hybrids developed during last 3 years, 736 varieties/hybrids are climate resilient, with enhanced ability to combat abiotic stresses.

Availability  of  good  quality  seeds  of  high  yielding  varieties  is  the  key  to  raising crop  yields.  ICAR  is  mandated  to  produce  breeder  seed  of  all  released  and  notified varieties (as per the indents received from Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare) which in turn are converted to other classes of seeds viz., foundation and certified seed through multiplication by  different agencies for further availability to the farmers.

During  2018-19,  under  Attracting  and  Retaining  Youth  in  Agriculture  (ARYA) programme, 3474 rural youths were provided skill development training in entrepreneurial activities through 220 training programmes. As a result of the training, 2497 rural youths adopted  ARYA  enterprises  and  are  running  the  entrepreneurial  activities  in  sustainable manner by establishing 1022 micro-enterprise units at village level. In addition, 13.42 lakh farmers including youths were trained for updating their knowledge and skills on modern agricultural technologies.  Agri-business Incubation Centres established in ICAR institutes are facilitating entrepreneurs for their agri-business related technical needs by organizing various agri-business related programs at institute/zonal/national level.

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