Lok Sabha Question No. 1588 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-08
Subject: Agricultural Research
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAKESH SINGH, R.P. MARUTHARAJAA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1588

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08/12/2015

## AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

## 1588.  SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

SHRI R.P. MARUTHARAJAA:

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

(a) the details of the various research works  undertaken  by  the various research centres/institutes under ICAR in the country during the last three years and the current year;

(b) whether the farmers in the country  are  dependent  on  seeds  developed  by  the  Multinational Companies and Private Companies, if so, the details thereof, crop-wise;

(c) the details of the funds allocated by the Government for the development of new seed varieties during the last three years and the current year to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other research institutes; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to make this new research available to the farmers?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj d`'kd dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

## (SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA)

(a) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is having research programmes in different commodity/theme based research institutes in order to increase the production and productivity of agricultural commodities in the country. These research institutes undertake the  basic  and  strategic  research  programmes  related  to  crop/animal/vegetables/fruit/fish improvement and development of production and protection technologies to form a base for applied research. The information so developed is used by respective All India Coordinated Research  Projects  (AICRPs)  and  All  India  Network  Projects  (AINPs)  located  in  different state  agricultural  universities,  to  develop  location-specific  varieties/breeds  and  technologies as  per  the  agro-ecological  needs  for  enhancing  the  production  and  productivity.  The improvement programmes lay emphasis on development of new crop varieties/hybrids, with improved quality and tolerance/resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and making crops able to  withstand  the  weather  extremities.  A  total  of  309  varieties  comprising  of  cereals  (192),

O.I.H.

oilseeds (42), pulses (39), fiber crops (13), forage crops (10) and sugarcane (13) have been released during the last three years (2012-14). Further, 81 varieties comprising cereals (49), oilseeds  (16),  pulses  (8),  fiber  crops  (3),  forage  crops  (4)  and  sugarcane  (1)  have  been released during 2015.  Besides field crops, a total 155 varieties of horticultural crops were also  released  during  this  period.  Targeted  integration  of  economically  important  genes through structural and functional genomics/molecular breeding has been strengthened.

(b) There  is  no  dependency  of  farmers  on  seed  developed  by  multinational  and  private companies, while a part of the seeds comes  from them.   ICAR through its Seed  Project  is shouldering the responsibility in ensuring the quality seed production, especially of breeder seed  and  production  of  quality  seed  of  other  classes  of  newly  released  improved  varieties. Breeder  Seed  Production  is  taken  up  based  on  indents  received  from  Department  of Agriculture  &  Cooperation,  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare,  which  in  turn  is compiled as per the requirements received from different states. There has been a significant progress in quality seed production of all classes during 2014-15.  Breeder seed production has touched the production level of 97,982 q against the target of 72,030 q. Similarly, there has been more than the targeted quantities of quality seeds produced among various classes viz.,  Foundation Seed (1,75,622 q), Certified Seed (1,28,465 q), Truthfully Labelled (TFL) Seed (1,40,006 q) and Planting Material (34,176 q).  Only among a few crops of high valuelow volume seed enterprises like vegetable seeds and proprietary technology of Bt Cotton, there is a domination of private companies in the seed supply to the farmers. In addition to crops, quality semen is also being provisioned to farmers as well as development agencies for rearing  as  well  as  improvement  of  the  existing  animal  germplasm  under  farm  and  field conditions.

(c) Funds  allocated  for  the  development  of  seeds  varieties  during  the  last  three  years  and  the current year.

Rs. In Lakh

|   2012-13 |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |
|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|   3229.97 |   2938.12 |   5552.47 |    5076.5 |

(d) The ICAR institutes, SAUs and Krishi Vigyan Kendras are also engaged in nationwide Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs) of new crop varieties/hybrids and improved management practices to create awareness among the farmers, about the newly released crop technologies, as also improve the productivity of crops at the farmers' fields. Further, they also organize Krishi  Melas, Kisan  Sangaosthis,  Scientist  Farmer  Interaction,  Farmers'  field  Days  and provide extension literature in Hindi, English and various regional languages, to popularize and promote new technologies.

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