Lok Sabha Question No. 433 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-20
Subject: Upgradation of Agriculture Technology
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara, Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 433

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  JULY, 2021

## UPGRADATION OF AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY

## 433.  SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government  has  any  major  programme  to  upgrade  agriculture technology,  provide  quality  seeds  and  farm  equipments  involving  some  of  the  best available outside the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government intends to promote modified traditional agriculture technology which requires use of cattle, at least for farmers having small land holdings, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  introduction  of  fuel-driven  farm  equipments  and  tractors,  the  menace  of adverse effect  of  chemical  fertilizers  on  soil,  stray  animals,  shortage  of  organic  manure, crop burning, unemployment in rural areas, etc., have caused greater damage than doing good, especially to the small farmers?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b): Yes  Sir,  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  is  continuously working to upgrade technology and provide quality seeds to farmers. During this process the  advancements  made  in  the  agricultural  sciences  both  within  India  and  outside  are considered  for  their  replication  under  the  suitable  farming  situations.  ICAR  focuses  on development/  adoption  of  new  technologies  such  as-  high  yielding  and  multi-stress resistant/tolerant  varieties/hybrids  in  major  crops;  multi-nutrients  rich  varieties  of  rice, wheat, maize, lentil and pearl millet and improved quality of mustard and soybean; blast resistant wheat varieties; transgenic varieties in cotton, pigeonpea and chickpea; exploitation of gene editing technology for improving desired traits in rice and wheat and development  of  extra-early/early  maturing  varieties  of  pulses  especially  mungbean  and pigeonpea. During 2014 till January 2021, a total of 1575 varieties of 70 field crops have

been developed which include 770 of cereals, 235 of oilseeds, 236 of pulses, 170 of fibre crops, 104 of forage crops, 52 of sugarcane and 8 of other crops. In addition, 288 varieties of  horticultural  crops  have  also  been  released  and  notified.  Besides,  150  seed  hubs  in pulses and oilseeds have also been established in the country to produce and distribute quality  seed of pulses and oilseeds.  ICAR has developed several locations specific, cost effective, eco-friendly, socially acceptable scientific farming practices in farmers' participatory mode addressing issues at ground level keeping in view the farmers' resource availability, traditional indigenous technology. ICAR has developed several improved farm implements/machines, process protocols and value-added products to reduce input costs, drudgery and post-harvest losses in production post production agriculture.

(c) For small holder farmers, ICAR has developed 60 Integrated Farming System (IFS) models including 8 Integrated Organic Farming System models for adoption in 22 states and  3  Union  Territories.  To  promote  organic  farming  in  the  country,  39  crops  based  51 cropping  systems  have  been  developed,  which  are  suitable  for  farming  in  12  states. Government of India is promoting organic farming and zero budget natural farming under various schemes. These are traditional agricultural technologies which uses cattle and are beneficial for small farmers. Pramaparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) scheme provides an  assistance  of  Rs.  50,000  per  ha  for  three  years  to  farmers  to  use  organic  inputs. Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER) provides  Rs.  25,000  per  ha  for  three  years  for  farmers  to  use  organic  inputs.  Also,  this scheme has provision up to Rs. 2 crores for formation of FPOs, capacity building and postharvest infrastructure.

(d) Introduction  of  fuel  driven  farm  equipment  and  tractors  have  ensured  completing different farm operations within their timeliness and saved a lot of cost of operation with reduced drudgery. In order to prevent adverse effect of chemical fertilizers, the Council is advocating  judicious  use  of  chemical  fertilizers  through  soil  test  based  balanced  and integrated  nutrient  management encompassing conjunctive  use  of  both  inorganic  and organic  sources  of  nutrients  viz.  FYM/Compost,  biofertilizers,  green  manures  etc.  to  the farmers.

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