Lok Sabha Question No. 669 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Research to improve existing Local Varieties
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 669

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  FEBRUARY, 2026

## RESEARCH TO IMPROVE EXISTING LOCAL VARIETIES

## 669.   SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

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

- (a) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  conserve  and  augment  traditional agricultural produce in the country;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to encourage research work to improve existing local varieties of agricultural produce and seeds; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the steps being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) is the nodal organization  for  conservation  of  germplasm  including  local  landraces  and  traditional varieties in its National Genebank which currently holds 4.74 lakh accessions of 2147 species including 85633 landraces and 14515 traditional cultivars viz., 208 and 153 of Agroforestry, 13690 and 7776 of Cereals, 244 and 123 of Fibre crops, 1563 and 48 of Forage crops, 7 and 6 of Fruits & Nuts, 10873 and 1690 of Grain legumes, 1200 and 489 of Medicinal & Aromatic plants, 16496 and 776 of Millets, 32267 and 1577 of Oilseeds, 15 and 14 of Ornamental, 1676 and 400 of Pseudocereals, 1200 and 213 of Spices Condiments and Flavour and 6194 and 1250 of Vegetables, respectively.

ICAR-NBPGR is  characterizing/  evaluating  the  germplasm  collections  including traditional varieties and landraces; and the information is shared with the plant breeders.

Traditional varieties are promoted and traditional varieties with special traits are used in the  crop  improvement  programmes  in  different  crops.  The  All  India  Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) on various crops utilize local varieties/ germplasm including traditional varieties as base material to develop new cultivars by introgression of superior agronomic traits. Till now, total 509 varieties in 26 crops viz. rice, maize, horse gram, linseed,  Indian  mustard,  pigeonpea  etc  have  been  developed  using  trait  specific germplasm including traditional cultivars.

Under National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) Government of India (GoI) has component for supporting the interventions for 'Boosting seed production of traditional  varieties'  including  Production  Incentive,  Assistance  on  Seed  Distribution, Assistance for Capacity Building (60% GoI Share & 40% State Share in Normal States and 90% GoI Share & 10% State Share in North-Eastern and Hilly States), Assistance for  Establishment  of  Seed  Banks  (100%  GoI  Share).  Agriculture  Department  of States/Union Territories,  State  Seed  Corporations  and  State  Agricultural  Universities, ICAR-Institutes, Central Agricultural Universities or National Seeds Corporation (NSC) and  other  National  Level  Agencies  are  implementing  agencies  for  this  component. Government of Odisha is promoting the traditional varieties of millets under Odisha Millet Mission  in  tribal  areas.  The  Mission  is  involved  to  increase  millet  production  and consumption, improve nutritional security, support decentralized millet enterprises, and institutionalize millet inclusion in public nutrition schemes.

Government  has  enacted  the  Protection  of  Plant  Varieties  and  Farmers  Rights (PPVFR) Act 2001,  which  is  globally  first  initiative  of  giving  rights  to  the  farmers  for conservation of their traditional varieties. Since the establishment, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority, 5241 farmers varieties including the land races and  traditional  varieties  have  been  registered.  Also,  the  farmers  and  communities involved  in  conservation  of  farmers  varieties,  land  races  and  traditional  varieties  are awarded/ rewarded/ recognized as per PPVFR Rules (2012 and 2018) which include Plant Genome Saviour Community Awards, Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Reward and Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Recognition. So far 45 Plant Genome Saviour Community Awards,  69  Plant  Genome  Saviour  Farmer  Rewards  and  88  Plant  Genome  Saviour Farmer  Recognition  have  been  conferred  to  farmer(s)/  farming  communities  across different  states  and  UTs.  Provision  of  financial  support  for  conservation  of  traditional varieties has been made under PPVFR Rules 2025 also.

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