Lok Sabha Question No. 205 (STARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Propagating New Plant Varieties
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Rajiv Pratap Rudy

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 205

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  AUGUST, 2021

## PROPAGATING NEW PLANT VARIETIES

*205. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्  याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether agricultural research universities in the country including  PUSA Agricultural University are assisting in propagating new varieties of plants to farmers;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  number  of  mother  plants  propagated  by  agricultural research universities in the country and given to farmers;
- (c) the details of ongoing innovation research studies on developing new varieties of seeds at different  agricultural  universities  in  the  country  along  with  locations  for  their testing;
- (d) the  number of registered and operational plant nurseries in the country, Statewise; and
- (e) the  details  of  the  process  and  scope  of  involvement  of  State  Governments  in agricultural research in collaboration with research universities?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि और ककसान कल्  याण मंत्री

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (e) :

A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 205 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  AUGUST, 2021 REGARDING 'PROPAGATING NEW PLANT VARIETIES'

(a) & (b): Yes,  Sir.  The  National  Agricultural  Research  System  (NARS)  comprising  of Institutes  of  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  and  State  and  Central Agricultural  Universities  including  Indian  Agricultural  Research  Institute  (Pusa),  New  Delhi are involved in development and propagation of new high yielding and biotic/abiotic stress tolerant varieties of field and horticultural crops. During last 7 years (2014 up to Jan 2021), 1575 varieties of 75 field crops and 288 varieties of 58 horticultural crops were developed ( Annexure-I ) which include 21 varieties of fruits. Mandate of ICAR Institutes and Agricultural Universities is mainly research, yet for promoting the newly released varieties of fruit crops, during  2019  and  2020,  total  744.73156  lakh  planting  material  were  propagated  and distributed to the farmers by Agricultural Universities, ICAR Institutes and their Krishi Vigyan Kendras ( Annexure-II )  including 83049 plants of 12 fruit crops propagated by IARI (Pusa Institute), New Delhi and its Regional Stations. During the same period 87212 mother plants of different fruit crops were also propagated and distributed to various nurseries for further multiplication of planting material.

(c) ICAR has a strong network of All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs)/ All India Network Projects (AINPs), coordinated by commodity Institutes, which are operational in the various Central and State Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes and focusing on  innovative  research  on  developing  new  varieties  seed  of  field  and  horticultural  crops. Presently 44 AICRPs/AINPs of field and horticultural crops are taking up innovative research to address and resolve intricate agricultural problems of national and regional significance and evaluation of technologies through 50 SAUs/CAUs/DUs and 55 ICAR Institutes across the country at 1017 locations ( Annexure-III ).

(d) Data of registered nurseries remains with states; however operational nurseries are accredited by National Horticulture Board for a period of two years. Since 2009-10 to July, 2021,  National  Horticultural  Board  (NHB)  has  accredited  691  eligible  operational  plant nurseries  across  17  States.  The  details  of  State-wise  accredited  plant  nurseries  in  the country  under  NHB  Scheme  from  2009-10  to  July  2021  is  given  at Annexure-IV. To streamline  the  information  on  registered  nurseries  and  display  of  availability  of  planting material, a National Portal on Plant Nurseries (http://nnp.nhb.gov.in/) has been launched by National Horticulture Board and data of 1014 nurseries has already been uploaded on the site.

(e) State governments are supporting agricultural research by providing funding to SAUs through plan (25%) and non-plan (100%)  research schemes.

Officers  of  State  Department  of  Agriculture  give  their  feed  back  during  Agriculture Officer  Workshops  about  the  various  technologies  developed  and  demonstrated  in  the states. All the outcome of research i.e., recommended varieties, production and protection technologies,  seed  production  and  popularization  and  spread  of  agricultural  technologies are implemented with the involvement of State Department of Agriculture.

Representatives  of  State  Department  of  Agriculture  as  members  of  the  Varietal Release  Committee  play  important  role  in  identification  and  release  of  new  varieties. Breeder and quality seed production is monitored along with the officials of state department of agriculture and the difficulties faced in the seed production of any variety are pointed out by the state department of agriculture which are addressed through research.

ICAR has eight Regional Committees covering all states and UTs. Scientists of ICAR Institutes, Agricultural Universities, KVKs, and officers of States Department of Agriculture participate and discuss various problems being faced by the states in the different areas of agriculture  during  Regional  Committee  meetings  and  programmes  are  formulated  by  the Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes for addressing these issues.

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## Annexure-I [Part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha SQ No.205 dated 03/08/2021]

## Field and horticultural crops varieties released during 2014 to 2021

| Crop                | Varieties released   | Crop             | Varieties released   | Crop                          | Varieties released            |
|---------------------|----------------------|------------------|----------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Cereals             |                      | Oilseeds         |                      | Pulses                        |                               |
| Rice                | 364                  | Soybean          | 53                   | Mungbean                      | 34                            |
| Maize               | 131                  | Groundnut        | 43                   | Urdbean                       | 28                            |
| Sorghum             | 43                   | Sesame           | 12                   | Pigeon pea                    | 35                            |
| Pearl millet        | 51                   | Niger            | 5                    | Cowpea                        | 13                            |
| Little millet       | 11                   | Sunflower        | 12                   | Horsegram                     | 6                             |
| Proso millet        | 4                    | Castor           | 14                   | Rajmash                       | 3                             |
| Kodo millet         | 4                    | Indian Mustard   | 28                   | Cluster bean                  | 1                             |
| Finger millet       | 28                   | Yellow sarson    | 5                    | Faba bean                     | 1                             |
| Foxtail millet      | 8                    | Brown sarson     | 3                    | Moth bean                     | 1                             |
| Barnyard millet     | 4                    | Gobhi sarson     | 2                    | Indian bean                   | 2                             |
| Wheat               | 106                  | Toria            | 10                   | Chickpea                      | 61                            |
| Barley              | 18                   | Taramira         | 2                    | Lentil                        | 30                            |
| Forage crops        |                      | Raya             | 1                    | Field pea                     | 20                            |
| Forage pearl pillet | 5                    | Karan rai        | 1                    | Lathyrus                      | 1                             |
| Forage maize        | 1                    | Linseed          | 33                   | Total                         | 1575                          |
| Forage sorghum      | 15                   | Safflower        | 11                   |                               |                               |
| Forage cowpea       | 5                    | Commercial crops | Commercial crops     | Horticultural crops           | Horticultural crops           |
| Guinea grass        | 3                    | Cotton           | 79                   | Spices                        | 18                            |
| Fescue grass        | 1                    | Bt cotton        | 60                   | Seed spices                   | 29                            |
| Rice bean           | 5                    | Jute             | 15                   | Tuber crops                   | 46                            |
| Marvel grass        | 4                    | Mesta            | 7                    | Plantation crops              | 12                            |
| Anjan grass         | 4                    | Kenaf            | 4                    | Vegetables                    | 151                           |
| Dhaman grass        | 2                    | Sunhemp          | 1                    | Flowers                       | 11                            |
| Setaria grass       | 1                    | Roselle          | 3                    | Fruits                        | 21                            |
| Ryegrass            | 2                    | Ramie            | 1                    | Total                         | 288                           |
| Kolukattai grass    | 1                    | Sugarcane        | 52                   |                               |                               |
| Bajra Napier hybrid | 8                    | Others           |                      |                               |                               |
| Bundel Bajra        | 1                    | Amaranth         | 8                    | Field and Horticultural crops | Field and Horticultural crops |
| Aparajita           | 1                    | Kalingada        | 2                    | Grant total                   | 1863                          |
| Jawahar Vicia       | 1                    |                  |                      |                               |                               |
| Forage Sewan grass  | 2                    |                  |                      |                               |                               |
| Sesbania            | 1                    |                  |                      |                               |                               |
| Oats                | 27                   |                  |                      |                               |                               |
| Lucerne             | 7                    |                  |                      |                               |                               |
| Berseem             | 3                    |                  |                      |                               |                               |

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## Annexure-II

## [Part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha SQ No.205 dated 03/08/2021]

## Planting material and mother plants produced by Agricultural Universities, KVKs and ICAR Institutes during 2019 and 2020

| Planting Material Propagating Unit   |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   Total (Nos. in lakhs) |
|--------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-------------------------|
| Agricultural Universities            |  13.7584  |  14.2962  |                28.0546  |
| Krishi Vigyan Kendras                | 365.532   | 348.01    |               713.542   |
| IARI, New Delhi                      |   0.40733 |   0.42316 |                 0.83049 |
| IIHR, Bengalore                      |   1.10595 |   1.19847 |                 2.30442 |
| Total                                | 380.804   | 363.928   |               744.732   |

Mother plants propagated and distributed Agricultural Universities: 87212

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## Annexure-III [Part (c) of Lok Sabha SQ No.205 dated 03/08/2021]

Centres of All India Coordinated Research Projects/ All India Network Project operating in different Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes for taking up innovative research and testing of technologies in field and horticultural crops

| Subject Matter Division/AICRP              | No. of centres in different SAUs   |
|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| Crop Science                               |                                    |
| All India Coordinated Research Projects    |                                    |
| Wheat & Barley, Karnal                     | 29                                 |
| Rice, Hyderabad                            | 45                                 |
| Maize, Ludhiana                            | 32                                 |
| Sorghum, Hyderabad                         | 19                                 |
| Pearl millet, Jodhpur                      | 13                                 |
| Small Millets, Bengaluru                   | 13                                 |
| Forage Crops, Jhansi                       | 22                                 |
| Chickpea, Kanpur                           | 28                                 |
| MULLaRP, Kanpur                            | 28                                 |
| Pigeonpea, Kanpur                          | 24                                 |
| NSP (Crops), Mau                           | 41                                 |
| Groundnut, Junagarh                        | 20                                 |
| Soybean, Indore                            | 21                                 |
| Rapeseed & Mustard, Bharatpur              | 22                                 |
| Oilseed, Hyderabad                         | 27                                 |
| Linseed, Kanpur                            | 15                                 |
| Sesame and Niger, Jabalpur                 | 17                                 |
| Sugarcane, Lucknow                         | 22                                 |
| Cotton, Coimbatore                         | 32                                 |
| Nematodes in Cropping System, New Delhi    | 24                                 |
| Biocontrol of Crop Pests, Bengaluru        | 12                                 |
| Honeybees &Pollinators, New Delhi          | 19                                 |
| All India Network Projects                 |                                    |
| Potential Crops, New Delhi                 | 16                                 |
| Transgenics (NPTC), New Delhi              | 46                                 |
| Arid Legumes, Kanpur                       | 10                                 |
| Tobacco, Rajamundry                        | 6                                  |
| Jute & Allied Fibres, Barrackpore          | 8                                  |
| Soil Arthropod Pests, Durgapura, Rajasthan | 5                                  |
| Agricultural Acarology                     | 9                                  |
| Pesticides Residues, New Delhi             | 15                                 |
| Vertebrate Pest Management, Jodhpur        | 8                                  |
| ICAR Seed Project, Mau                     | 63                                 |
| AMAAS                                      | 20                                 |
| Total Crop Science                         | 731                                |
| Horticulture                               |                                    |
| All India Coordinated Research Projects    |                                    |
| Vegetable Crops                            | 36                                 |
| Fruits                                     | 50                                 |

| Arid fruits                                  |   18 |
|----------------------------------------------|------|
| Plantation Crops (Palm)                      |   30 |
| Medicinal & Aromatic Plants and Betelvine    |   22 |
| Mushroom                                     |   22 |
| Cashew                                       |   14 |
| Floriculture                                 |   18 |
| Onion & Garlic                               |   11 |
| Potato                                       |   25 |
| Spices                                       |   19 |
| Tuber Crops                                  |   21 |
| Total Horticulture Science                   |  286 |
| Grand total (Crop and Horticultural Science) | 1017 |

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## Details of State-wise Accredited Plant Nurseries under NHB Scheme from 2009-10 to July, 2021

| SN.   | State Name                        |   Nurseries Accredited |
|-------|-----------------------------------|------------------------|
| 1.    | Andhra Pradesh                    |                      6 |
| 2.    | Chhattisgarh                      |                     56 |
| 3.    | Gujarat                           |                    100 |
| 4.    | Haryana                           |                     28 |
| 5.    | Himachal Pradesh                  |                     21 |
| 6.    | Jammu & Kashmir                   |                     94 |
| 7.    | Jharkhand                         |                     11 |
| 8.    | Karnataka                         |                     13 |
| 9.    | Kerala                            |                      5 |
| 10.   | Madhya Pradesh                    |                      8 |
| 11.   | Maharashtra (Nagpur, Nasik, Pune) |                    153 |
| 12.   | Odisha                            |                     22 |
| 13.   | Punjab                            |                     27 |
| 14.   | Rajasthan                         |                     25 |
| 15.   | Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow, Varanasi) |                     67 |
| 16.   | Uttarakhand                       |                     15 |
| 17.   | West Bengal                       |                     40 |
|       | Total                             |                    691 |

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