Lok Sabha Question No. 2284 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-20
Subject: Innovation and New Technologies in Farm Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: M. Selvaraj

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2284 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## INNOVATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN FARM SECTOR

## 2284. SHRI M. SELVARAJ:

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

- (a) the details of the initiatives taken by the Government for innovation/development of new technologies in the farm sector across the country during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (b) whether the Government has developed any mechanism to disseminate information about such innovation/technologies to the farmers during the said period;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the number of farmers who availed benefits from such innovation/technologies during the said period;
- (d) the salient features of Kisan portal and its advantages to the farmers along with the number of farmers benefited from such portal since inception; and
- (e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) During  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Research (ICAR)/ National Agricultural Research System (NARS) has taken initiatives for innovation/ development of new technologies in the farm sector across the country like Genetic enhancement of plants/ animals/ fish for higher productivity under increased intensity of biotic and abiotic stresses, productivity enhancement through sustainable intensification, productivity enhancement through mechanization of agriculture and food system, enhancing value, safety and income through food processing, development of energy efficient technologies, farming practices, and promoting technology transfer to the farmers and stake holders. During the last nine years (2014-2022), a total of 2122 varieties  have  been  released  of  food  crops,  oil  seeds,  pulses,  commercial  crops, horticultural crops, potential crops and fodder crops which has not only stabilized the production but also increased the productivity and production of food grains in India besides other production and protection technologies.

(b) and (c): NARS coordinated at the apex level by the ICAR/ Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), comprises of 98 Agricultural Research Institutes, 5 Deemed  Universities and  3 Central Agricultural Universities besides 63 State Agricultural Universities, 4 Universities with Agriculture Faculties  mandated  for developing,  testing  and  refining  new  technologies  in  agriculture  sector.  To  provide information  about  these  developed  technologies  to  the  farmers,  Government  has established a network of 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) at district level which are coordinated by 11 Agricultural Technology Application and Research Institute (ATARI). The KVKs are mandated to provide information about new technologies developed in agriculture sector to the farmers. The major activities undertaken by the KVKs include on-farm testing of location-specificity of technologies under various farming systems; frontline demonstrations to establish the production potential of improved agricultural technologies on the farmers' field; capacity development of farmers for knowledge and skill  upgradation;  providing  farm  advisories  on  varied  subjects  of  interest  to  farmers using ICT and other tools; production and distribution of quality seeds, planting materials and other technological inputs to farmers. Besides, Government is also implementing a centrally  sponsored  scheme  namely  Agricultural  Technology  Management  Agency (ATMA) which aims at making available the latest agricultural technologies in different thematic  areas  to  increase  agricultural  production  through  extension  activities viz . Farmers  Training,  Demonstrations,  Exposure  Visits,  Kisan  Mela,  Mobilization  of Farmers Groups and Setting up of Farm Schools. During the last three years and the current year training of 62.99 lakhs farmers, 1.49 lakhs On-farm trials and 10.29 lakhs field level demonstrations were conducted by the KVKs and ICAR Institutes.

(d) A dedicated portal of PM-KISAN was launched on 06.02.2019 and has been hosted as www.pmkisan.gov.in. The PM-KISAN Portal provide verified and single source of truth on farmers' details; Timely assistance to the farmers in farm operation; A unified e-platform for transferring of cash benefits into farmer's bank account through PFMS integration; Location wise availability of benefited farmers list; and Ease of monitoring across the country on fund transaction details and many other facilities are available in the portal.   The total farmers benefited by this portal is more than 12.0 crores.   Another portal i.e. mKishan has unique features like database to shift farmers down to Block level & to select specific agricultural commodities/ animal/ poultry/ fish, rating/ correction of messages by the supervisory officers, searchable database of previous advisories. Since inception, total 5,13,76,458 farmers were benefitted.

(e) The available technologies are disseminated through training programmes, Front Line Demonstrations (FLD), On-field Demonstrations (OFD), skill development programs, supplying literatures and handouts to the farmers and farm women, rural youth and in-service extension personnel.  These activities are carried out by different agencies and  schemes  of  the Government  like  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendra,  ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency), National Food Security Mission(NFSM),  Rastriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojna  (RKVY),  Sub-Mission  of  Seeds  and Planting Material (SMSP), Seed Hubs (Pulses, Oilseeds, Millets), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and are implemented by State Governments, ICAR Institutes and Central/State Agricultural Universities.  The KVKs and the ICAR Institutes in last three years trained more than 62.99 lakhs farmers.

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