Lok Sabha Question No. 1030 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-13
Subject: Promoting Indigenous Varieties of Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1030

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## PROMOTING INDIGENOUS VARIETIES OF CROPS

1030. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल् याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)  the steps taken by the Government for promoting indigenous varieties of crops other than millet along with the details thereof;
- (b)  whether there is any change in the income of small farmers after they started growing millet and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the number of beneficiaries in Delhi getting benefits under Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion (INSIMP)?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल् याण मंत्री

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) The Government is implementing various schemes viz; National Food Security Mission  (NFSM),  Mission  for  integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) etc.  that  promote  production  of  field  and  horticultural  crops,  besides  technology support of National Agricultural Research System (NARS) which include indigenous varieties of crops. In addition, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA), a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament is also involved in protection and promotion of indigenous varieties of various crops including millets through  genetic  resource  conservation  activities  of  communities  or  farmers  by providing cash incentives through awards & recognition.

Further,  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  and  Alliance  Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) through ICARNational Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), and Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) are implementing a project to mainstream agricultural biodiversity conservation and utilization in agricultural sector to reduce vulnerability in four recognized agro-ecoregions namely,  Western Himalayas including the cold arid tract; North-eastern region; Western arid/semi-arid region,  and  Central  tribal  region.  It  primarily  focusses  on  20  important  crops traditionally grown in these regions including millets.

(b) As per the reports of ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad from Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs) of small millets, the benefit from cultivation of improved technologies of small millets enabled farmers to realize higher profits. The average benefit cost ratio (B:C ratio) of improved technologies was 1.75 versus that of traditional practices being 1.13 across all millets. The highest benefit cost ratio was seen in foxtail millet (2.25 vs. 1.54) and barnyard millet (2.16 vs 1.18). In case of cultivation of sorghum in kharif and rabi seasons, the increase in grain yield was 32 to 40% and stover yield increase by 21%. Summer sorghum cultivation in Tenkashi area of Tamil Nadu benefitted the farmers immensely with a B:C ratio of 2.1.

(c) The NCT of Delhi was not covered under Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion (INSIMP) a sub-scheme of RKVY.

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