Lok Sabha Question No. 1911 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: Development of High-Yielding and Climate Resilient Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Raja A

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1911

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  MARCH, 2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-YIELDING AND CLIMATE RESILIENT CROPS

## 1911.  SHRI RAJA A:

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

- (a) whether  the  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  developed  highyielding, climate-resilient, and  biofortified varieties of crops, including both field  and horticultural crops in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the manner in which these new crop varieties will be made accessible to farmers and the support system to help farmers adopt these new varieties; and

(d) the details of discount and assistance provided to farmers for adopting these varieties, including quality seeds of cereals, pulses, oilseeds and green manure crops?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): During 2014-2024, National Agricultural Research System (NARS) including ICAR Institutes  and  State/Central  Agricultural  Universities  (CAU/SAU)  under  the  aegis  of  Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed 2900 location specific improved crop varieties/ hybrids including 1380 of cereals, 412 of oilseeds, 437 of pulses, 376 of fibre crops, 178 of forage crops, 88 of sugarcane, and 29 of other crops. Out of these 2900 varieties, 2661 varieties (cereals 1258; oilseeds 368; pulses 410; fibre crops 358; forage crops 157, sugarcane 88 and other crops 22) are tolerant to one or more biotic and/or abiotic stresses.  Of these 537 varieties have been developed specially for extreme climate using the precision phenotyping tools. During this period 152 biofortified varieties of rice (14), wheat (53), maize (24), millets (26), oilseeds (21), pulses (9) and grain amaranth (5). Similarly, in Horticultural crops, during the  last  ten  years  (2014-2024),  a  total  of  819  varieties  have  been  released  and  notified comprising  of  perennial  spices  (60),  seed  spices  (49),  potato  &  tropical  tuber  crops  (71), plantation crops (26), fruits crops (123), vegetable crops (429), flowers & other ornamental plants (53) and medicinal and aromatic plants (8); 19 of which are biofortified varieties.

(c): Systematic efforts have been undertaken to produce breeder and quality seeds of these varieties  as  per  the  indents  received  from  different  agencies.    Breeder  seed  production  in sufficient  quality  has  been  planned  from  Rabi  2024-25  and  processing  for  Kharif  2025  for

expediting delivery of seed to the farmers. All breeder seed production/ variety developers centres  have  been  instructed  to  share  the  available  breeder/stock  seed  with  the  seed production agencies like National Seed Corporation Ltd. (NSCL), State Seed Corporations, Public Sector Undertaking, Private Sector, FPOs and other agencies for faster downstream multiplication of foundation and certified seed for making seed of these varieties available to the  farmers.  The  seed  production  will  be  taken  at  farmers'  fields  also  through  Farmers' Participatory Seed Production Programme for faster multiplication.

All possible efforts are made for creating awareness about these varieties among the seed production agencies and farmers through Doordarshan channels, All India Radio, print, electronic and social media. Frontline demonstrations of these improved crop cultivars are regularly  conducted  throughout  the  country  by  ICAR  institutions  and  SAUs.  Krishi  Vigyan Kendras  (KVK)  demonstrate  these  improved  crop  cultivars  to  farmers.  Seeds  of  these improved crop cultivars are also provided to the farmers under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and North East Himalaya (NEH) region programmes.

(d): The Government of India is implementing Seed Village Programme component of the Sub-Mission on Seed & Planting Material (SMSP) under National Food Security & Nutrition Mission.  The  objective  of  this  scheme  is  to  make  available  the  seeds  of  climate  resilient, biofortified and high-yielding varieties to the farmers at the village. Under this programme, the financial assistance for distribution of foundation/ certified seeds is 50% of seed cost in cereals and 60% in oilseeds, fodder and green manure crops for production of quality seeds for one acre per farmer. National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds (NMEO-OS) has been approved for boosting domestic oilseed production and achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in edible oils during 2024-25 to 2030-31. Pattern of assistance under NMEO- OS is enclosed at Annexure.

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## [Part (d) of Lok Sabha USQ No. 1911 dated 11 TH  MARCH, 2025]

## Pattern of assistance/ patterns of fund sharing under NMEO- OS

|   Sl. No. | Component                                                   | Pattern sharing (GOI:State)   | Assistance                                                                                                                |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Purchase of breeder seed                                    | 100%                          | 100% cost of seed                                                                                                         |
|         2 | Seed Distribution in Clusters                               | 60:40/90:10                   | 100% cost of seed in value chain clusters                                                                                 |
|         3 | CFLD / FLD/ Special Demonstrations (TRFA and Intercropping) | 100%                          | Rates for FLD/ CFLD/ Block Demonstration for various oilseeds crops to be declared by the DA&FW periodically              |
|         4 | StateLevel Demonstrations                                   | 60:40 / 90:10                 | Rates for FLD/ CFLD/ Block Demonstration for various oilseeds crops to be declared by the DA&FW periodically              |
|         5 | Seed hubs and Storage units                                 | 100%                          | Seed hubs: - ` 50 lakhs for infrastructure - ` 100 lakhs in revolving funds Storage units: - ` 100 lakhs per Storage unit |
|         6 | Farmer Trainings and Farmer Field Schools                   | 60:40 / 90:10                 | ` 30,000 per batch of 30 Farmers 1 FFS per 1000ha@ ` 35,000 per ha                                                        |
|         7 | Management and Outreach Assistance for VCPs                 | 60:40 / 90:10                 | @1.5% of Training and Seed distribution cost                                                                              |
|         8 | Post-Harvest Infrastructure Support                         | 60:40 / 90:10                 | 33% of the project cost upto a maximum of ` 9,90,000                                                                      |
|         9 | Flexi Fund                                                  | 60:40 /90:10                  | As per the KY guidelines                                                                                                  |

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