Lok Sabha Question No. 3349 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Innovation and new Technologies in Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ajay Kumar Mandal, Sunil Kumar Pintu, Locket Chatterjee, Rama Devi, Navneet Ravi Rana, Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Mahabali Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3349

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st  MARCH, 2023

## INNOVATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN AGRICULTURE

## 3349. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE:

SHRI MAHABALI SINGH:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU:

SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि और षकसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the initiatives taken by the Government for innovation/development of new technologies in agriculture sector during each of the last three years and the current year particularly in the Hooghly Parliamentary constituency in West Bengal, Rohtas, Sitamarhi, Bhagalpur, Sheohar of Bihar, Sonipat district of Haryana and Amravati of Maharashtra;
- (b) whether the Government has evolved any mechanism to disseminate information about the said innovations and technologies to the farmers during the said period, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of farmers who have benefitted from the said innovations and technologies during the said period;
- (d) the main features of the Kisan Portal and its benefits to the farmers;
- (e) the number of farmers who have been benefitted since the launch of the said portal; and
- (f) the details of other steps taken/being taken by the Government in the said matter?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि और षकसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): Indian Council of Agricultural Research  (ICAR)/  National Agricultural  Research Education  and  Extension  System  (NAREES)  works  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. For example, a total of 86 field

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crops varieties have been developed for West Bengal, out of which Cereals (36), Oilseeds (23), Pulses (11), Fibre (8), 6 are of Forages and 2 are of Sugarcane. 90 field crops varieties have been developed for Bihar, out of which Cereals (45), Oilseeds (19), Pulses (10), Fibre (6) 7 are of Forages and 3 are of Sugarcane. 140 field crops varieties have been developed for Haryana, out of which Cereals (49), Oilseeds (22), Pulses (22), Fibre (21), Forages (21) and 5 are of Sugarcane. A total of 288 field crops varieties have been developed for Maharashtra, out of which Cereals (70), Oilseeds (44), Pulses (24), Fibre (130), 15 are of Forages and 5 are of Sugarcane.

(b) and (c): National Agricultural Research Education and Extension System is an inclusive system for science led Agricultural technologies development and dissemination, coordinated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE).  The system comprises 98 Agricultural Research Institutes, 4 Deemed to  be  Universities  and  3  Central  Agricultural  Universities  besides  63  State  Agricultural Universities,  4  Universities  with  Agriculture  Faculty  mandated  for  developing,  testing  and refining new technologies in agriculture sector. To disseminate information about technologies and innovations developed by these institutes and universities to the farmer, Government has been implementing Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) scheme in different States of the Country. The activities of KVKs include on-farm testing to identify the location specificity of technology under various farming systems; frontline demonstrations to establish the production potential of improved agricultural technologies on the farmers' fields; capacity development of farmers for knowledge and skill up gradation; and production of quality seeds, planting materials and other  technology  inputs  for  availability  to  the  farmers.  Besides,  Government  implements  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. About 1100.66 lakh farmers have got benefitted through KVKs during last three  years  including  the  current  year.  In  various  training  programmes,  about  961.90  lakh farmers have participated. 1.49 lakh on farm trials and 10.29 lakh field level demonstrations respectively, were taken up during the last three years and the current year by KVKs and ICAR Institutes.

(d) to (e): The Kisan Portal or Farmers' portal of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare  is  a  platform  for  farmers  to  seek  any  information  related  to  agriculture.  Detailed information  on  farmers'  insurance,  agricultural  storage,  crops,  extension  activities,  seeds, pesticides, farm machineries, etc. is provided. Details of fertilizers, market prices, package and practices,  programmes,  welfare  schemes  are  also  given.  Block  level  details  related  to  soil fertility, storage, insurance, training, etc. are available in an interactive map.  In the Farmers' Portal, farmer get all relevant information on specific subjects around his village/block /district or state.  This  information  is  delivered  in  the  form  of  text,  SMS,  email  and  audio/video  in  the language he or she understands.

These levels can be easily reached through the Map of India placed on the Home page. Farmers are also able to ask specific queries as well as give valuable feedback through the feedback module specially developed for the purpose. So far 6481774 people have visited the portal till 16th March, 2023 and got benefitted.

(f): 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 under various schemes of the  Government  like  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendra,  ATMA  (Agricultural  Technology  Management Agency), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Rashtiya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY), SubMission 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.

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