Lok Sabha Question No. 2600 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Nutri-Sensitive Agri-Resources and Innovations Programme
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Smt. Supriya Sule, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2600

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## NUTRI-SENSITIVE AGRI-RESOURCES AND INNOVATIONS PROGRAMME

2600.  SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE: SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH: SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL: SMT. SUPRIYA SULE: PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD: DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

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

- (a) the  steps  undertaken  to  implement  the  Nutri-Sensitive  Agri-Resources  &  Innovations (NARI) Programme nationwide along with specific data on its implementation in Maharashtra;
- (b) the key objectives of the NARI Programme and the manner in which it aims to address nutritional deficiencies among rural communities in Maharashtra;
- (c) the details of the programme's rollout in the 75 selected villages including those located in Maharashtra;
- (d) the details of estimated number of individuals in Maharashtra expected to benefit from the NARI Programme and the target population the Government seeks to reach;
- (e) whether the Government has taken concrete steps to promote crop biofortification in the country, particularly in Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for limited progress; and
- (f) whether 531 licensed private seed companies and FPOs including those operating in Maharashtra  have  achieved  measurable  outcomes  in  the  production  and  distribution  of biofortified seed varieties and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a), (b) & (d): Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  are  implementing  Nutri-Sensitive  Agricultural Resources and Innovations (NARI) to strengthen health and nutrition among the rural population.

The activities under NARI promotes diversified diets, nutri-gardens, nutri-Thalis, biofortified crop varieties, and capacity building on nutrition-sensitive agriculture. NARI activities covered 16,281 farm women through demonstrations on nutrition garden and biofortified crops during 2024-25. Besides, capacity building programmes were organized to educate 1.1 lakh farm women.

During  the  same  year,  KVKs  of  Maharashtra  conducted  748  demonstrations  on  nutrigarden and 73 on biofortified crop varieties; and organized 204 trainings and extension activities benefitting 6640 farm women.

The key objective of NARI activities is to promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture through awareness and capacity building programme on nutri-gardens, nutri-thalis, and biofortified crops. The activities  in  NARI  is  to  create  awareness,  update  knowledge  and  develop  skills  of  farm women of Maharashtra on different aspects of nutrition leading to address nutritional deficiencies among  rural  communities.  About  8000  farm  families  are  estimated  to  be  benefitted  in Maharashtra under NARI.

(c): The  ICAR-Central  Institute  for  Women  in  Agriculture  have  implemented  Nutri-Smart Village programme through its All India Coordinated Research Project on Women in Agriculture in 75 villages across the country including 5 villages in Parbhani district of Maharashtra. A total of 3,821 nutri-gardens were established; 30 quintals of seeds were provided to farm families; and  425  exhibitions  were  conducted  to  create  awareness  and  knowledge  on  nutri-smart practices under the programme. A total of 25 exhibitions and 160 capacity-building programmes were organized in Maharashtra benefitting 29,800 farm families.

(e): The  Government  has  taken  steps  to  promote  crop  biofortification  across  the  country including Maharashtra. ICAR has developed 205 biofortified varieties (185 of field crops and 20 of  horticultural  crops)  and  is  planned  to  promote  them  through  the  KVKs,  including  in Maharashtra  under  the  CFLD  (Cluster  Frontline  Demonstration)  programme  (2025-26)  on biofortified crops varieties. These varieties are also promoted under the NFSNM (National Food Security and Nutrition Mission) for major crops.

Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare also advises the States and Seed producing agencies  etc.  to  place  the  breeder  seeds  indents  of  newly  released  High  Yielding  Varieties (including biofortified) varieties of various crops developed by ICAR Institutes/State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) etc. for further multiplication into foundation and certified seeds, so as to make available required seeds of these crops' varieties to the farmers.

Under NFSNM, the financial assistance is available/provided for the different seed related activities viz., for purchase of breeder seeds, distribution of foundation and certified seeds (at 50.0%) including biofortified varieties of various crops so that sufficient seeds of these varieties could be made available to farmers.

(f): As reported by various State Govt., there are more than 1.86 lakh Seed Producers license and 2.07 lakh Seed Dealers licenses have been issued across the country to carryout production and distribution of seeds (including bio-fortified seeds varieties). Of that 1375 Seed Producers license and 44,563 Seed Dealer licenses have been issued in Maharashtra. During the year 2024-25, a total of 15,043.5 qtls of breeder bio-fortified seeds varieties were produced. Similarly, 20,422.9  qtls  of  foundation,  certified  and  TL  seeds  of  biofortified  seeds  of  field  crops  were produced in the same duration. In Maharashtra, 16 qtls of bio-fortified breeder seeds and 94.2 qtls of quality seeds were produced and distributed to farmers. The production and distribution of these seeds have been achieved taking help of seed producers in public and private Seed companies including FPOs.

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