Lok Sabha Question No. 2968 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: Present Status of Pest Resistant Seeds
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2968

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  MARCH, 2025

## PRESENT STATUS OF PEST RESISTANT SEEDS

## 2968.  DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:

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

- (a) the details and present status of pest resistant seeds;
- (b) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that the farmers are facing huge losses for want of approval;
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  accord  immediate  approval  to  pest  resistant seeds;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to stop the farmers from taking extreme steps like suicide;
- (e) whether it is a fact that several farmers have committed suicide so far in the State of Maharashtra on account of failure in crop and weed management, if so, the details thereof;
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to resolve these problems and stop suicide being committed by farmers; and
- (g) whether the Government have any alternative policy or programme for solution of this steps?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c):   Development  of  location  specific  high  yielding  varieties/  seeds  is  a  continuous process and regularly carried out by the crop based All India Co-ordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) as per the norms and guidelines across the National Agricultural Research System (NARES) under the aegis of India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The varieties/ seeds thus developed are notified in the Gazette of India after thorough examination by the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties for Agricultural Crops. During the last 10 years (2014 - 2024) a total of 2900 location specific high yielding field crop varieties have been developed and out of these notified varieties / seeds, crop-wise varieties / seeds  developed  along  with  the  pest  /disease  resistant/tolerant varieties / seeds  (in parenthesis) are as follows: rice 668 (588); wheat 178 (168); barley 21 (13); maize 239 (229); sorghum 78 (68); pearl millet 81 (75); other millets 115 (95); pulses 437 (402); oilseeds 412 (342); fiber crops 376 (345); forage crops 178 (147); sugarcane 88 (83) and other crops 29 (19). These seeds are included in the seed chain for further supply of quality seed to the farmers.

Further, to minimize the losses due to insect-pests infestation, various package of practices for control  of  insect-pests  have  been  recommended, through  which  farmers are  controlling  the insect-pests.

(d) & (e): Government  of  India  supports  the  efforts  of  States  through  appropriate  policy measures, budgetary allocation and various schemes/ programmes like awareness campaign at village level through crop demonstration and training programmes. The various schemes/ programmes of the Government of India like PM Fasal Bima Yojana, NAMO Kisan Yojana and adoption of integrated crop management practices are meant for the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers. The Government of  India  has  substantially  enhanced  the  budget  allocation  of  Department  of  Agriculture  & Farmers Welfare from Rs. 21933.50 crore (BE) during 2013-14 to Rs. 1,22,528.77 crore (BE) during 2024-25. The data/details related to suicides Committee by farmers is maintained by respective State Government.

(f) & (g):  Out  of  these  2900  developed  field  crop  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.

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. Since 2014, total 11.85 lakh quintals of breeder seed have been produced and supplied to the various public and private sector seed agencies for its donwstream multiplication to foundation and certified seeds. The share of less than 10 years old varieties in total seed supply is more than 70%.

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 (KVKs) demonstrates these improved crop cultivars to farmers. Varieties developed are disseminated among farmers for large scale adoption though KVKs, State Department of Agriculture, Doordarshan, ICT tools like mobile apps, etc.

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.

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