Lok Sabha Question No. 1219 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-09
Subject: Technologies for Agricultural Advancement
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Bholanath (B.P. Saroj)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1219

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09/02/2021

## TECHNOLOGIES FOR AGRICULTURAL ADVANCEMENT

## 1219.  SHRI BHOLANATH (B.P. SAROJ):

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 new technologies which are being developed for agricultural advancement and doubling the income  of  farmers  during  the  last  three  years,  particularly during COVID-19 period;
- (b) the targets set/achieved so far; and
- (c) whether the Government has any plans/schemes to support the farming community and if so, the details thereof?

## 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) Yes,  Sir. The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  is  engaged  in developing high-yielding, disease/pest resistant varieties and technologies in crops, horticulture, animal and fisheries science which have enabled food and nutritional security in the country. During the last three years, a total 838 high yielding and trait specific field crop varieties have been developed by ICAR of which 578 are climate resilient, 41 short duration and  47  biofortified  varieties.  During  last  three  years,  3.53  lakh  q  breeder  seed  of  1330 varieties of 61 field crops has been produced as per the indents received from DAC&FW and supplied to the seed producing agencies.

Integrated Farming System (IFS) models (63 till date) developed by ICAR have the potential  to  enhance  the  income  of  farmers.  During  the  last  3  years  18  IFS  models,  14 bankable  projects  on  IFS  and  organic  farming  packages  for  22  cropping  systems  were developed.  During  the  last  3  years,  a  total  77  machines  and  processing  equipment  were developed to promote mechanisation of small farms & reduce postharvest losses. Total 101 technologies  for  processing  and  on  farm  value  addition  were  also  developed.  In  fisheries, ICAR  developed  breeding  and  seed  production  technologies  of  9  food  fishes  and  12 ornamental fishes, demonstrated cage culture in reservoirs and open sea, developed several

cost-effective feeds for fish and shell fish, developed and demonstrated culture technology of pacific white shrimp, farming in inland saline regions of north India and developed and commercialized  several  nutraceuticals  from  seaweeds  and  other  aquatic  organisms  for human health. For health management and increase in productivity of animals of livestock & poultry, ICAR developed vaccines against avian influenza virus, sheep pox, Infectious bursal disease in poultry, Classical Swine Fever and heat tolerant FMD vaccine of livestock.

(b) The  R&D  efforts  undertaken  by  ICAR  are  farmer  centric.  With  the  purpose  of providing technology support to the farmers and the providing technology backstopping of various farmer centric schemes of the Government ICAR sets targets.  During 2020 alone, 345  varieties  of  different  crops  were  developed.  The  details  regarding  the  targets  set  by ICAR during the last 3 years with respect to the key thrust areas and the achievements are given in table below.

| Particulars/Thrust Areas                                                                                           | Achievements during the last 3 years   | Achievements during the last 3 years   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                    | Targets                                | Achievements                           |
| No. of Varieties of different field crops                                                                          | 730                                    | 838                                    |
| Breeders seed of crops produced& distributed (lakh q.)                                                             | 2.67                                   | 3.53                                   |
| No. of Varieties of horticultural crops                                                                            | 140                                    | 174                                    |
| Breeders/Truthfully labeled seed of horticultural crops produced &distributed (thousand q.)                        | 57.7                                   | 102.3                                  |
| Technologies on Soil & Water conservation                                                                          | 88                                     | 81                                     |
| Technologies on Sustainable Cropping and Farming System Research Climate Resilient Agriculture and dryland farming | 73                                     | 67                                     |
| Farm implements/machine for production agriculture                                                                 | 38                                     | 42                                     |
| Machines/equipment/pilot plant for processing of agricultural produce                                              | 32                                     | 35                                     |
| Number of products and processes developed                                                                         | 93                                     | 101                                    |
| Fish Production from project reservoirs (kg/ha/yr)                                                                 | 430                                    | 690                                    |
| Production from project wetlands (kg/ha/yr.)                                                                       | 1800                                   | 1849                                   |
| On Farm Trials (OFT) (in lakh)                                                                                     | 1.06                                   | 1.11                                   |
| Field Level Demonstrations (FLD) (in lakh)                                                                         | 5.64                                   | 7.02                                   |
| Training of farmers (in lakh)                                                                                      | 42.47                                  | 43.39                                  |
| Training of Extension Personnel (in lakh)                                                                          | 4.05                                   | 3.51                                   |
| Seed production (in lakh quintal)                                                                                  | 5.45                                   | 5.37                                   |
| Production &distribution of Planting material (in lakh)                                                            | 1056.52                                | 1173.03                                |
| Production & distribution of livestock strains and fingerlings (in lakh)                                           | 315.09                                 | 605.15                                 |
| Testing of soil samples (in lakh)                                                                                  | 18.92                                  | 21.86                                  |
| Mobile based agro-advisories to farmers (in lakh)                                                                  | 1518.62                                | 2289.74                                |
| Participation of farmers in extension activities (in lakh)                                                         | 450.71                                 | 470.83                                 |

(c) The Government has undertaken several focused developmental programmes, schemes,  reforms  and  policies  towards  enhancing  the  income  of  farmers.    These  include; Income support to farmers through PM KISAN, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana, Soil health  card  scheme,  promotion  of  FPOs,  A  national  Bee  &  Honey  Bee  Mission,  interest subvention  facilities  to  animal  husbandry  and  fisheries,  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayi Yojana, Micro Irrigation Fund, Agricultural Mechanisation, Setting up of e-NAM extension Platforms, introduction of Kisan Rail, & creation of Start-up Eco-system in agriculture and allied  sector.  All  these  policies  and  programmes  are  being  supported  by  higher  budgetary allocations,  non-budgetary  financial  resources  through  creation  of  corpus  funds,  and supplementary  income  transfers  under  PM-Kisan.  The  most  recent  major  intervention includes  the  'Atma  Nirbhar  Bharat-  Agriculture  package'  which  includes  comprehensive market reforms and creation of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund worth Rs. 1.0 lakh crores.

For providing technology support to the farming community and other stakeholders, ICAR has created the countrywide network of 722 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). Besides the Institutes are also supporting the farming community through schemes viz., Tribal Sub Plan,  North  Eastern  Hill  Specific  Scheme,  Mera  Gaon  Mera  Gaurav  (MGMG).  Through these  interventions,  critical  inputs  besides  training  and  capacity  building  activities  are undertaken. Apart from these schemes, various other extension programmes/ activities at the institute  level  are  organised  for  capacity  building  and  entrepreneurship  generation  of  the farming community throughout the year. The Council has also established 50 Agri Business Incubators at various ICAR Research Institutes to promote entrepreneurship in agriculture among farmers & budding entrepreneurs.

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