Lok Sabha Question No. 321 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Investment on Research and Development
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 321 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19/07/2016

## INVESTMENT ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

## 321. SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI:

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

- (a) the current status of agriculture development in the country;
- (b) whether the amount of investment on research and development in agriculture sector is not adequate and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the  details  of  the  funds  allocated  for  and  spent  on  agricultural  research  in  the country during the last three years and the current year, State and year-wise;

(d) whether  the  Government  has  stressed  on  the  need  for  more  research  in  the agriculture sector and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to increase the allocation of funds for research and development in agriculture and if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

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

## (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a) The agricultural research needs of the country are being catered through National Agricultural  Research  System  (NARS)  which  comprise  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Research  (ICAR),  Central  Agricultural  Universities,  State  Agricultural  Universities  and Central/ State Universities having agriculture faculty.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through its 101 institutes/ deemed universities  and  79  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Projects  (AICRPs)  is  engaged  in conducting basic and applied research to cater the needs of farmers across the country.

The NARS has developed 261 varieties of field crops and provided 2.3 lakh quintal breeder  seeds  during  last  three  years  (2012-13  to  2014-15).  During  2016,  another  164 varieties  of  field  crops  have  been  notified.  Early  maturing  and  thermo-tolerant  crop varieties  with  higher  nutrient  and  water  use  efficiency  for  newer  niches  and  cropping systems have been developed and released for cultivation. The NARS in association with Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DoAC&FW) made available 347.31, 351.77 and 343.52 lakh quintals of certified/ quality seeds during 2013-14, 201415 and 2015-16, respectively, to the farmers. Moreover, India is currently producing more than 283 million tonnes of horticulture produce from an area of 24.3 million ha. Over the last decade, the area under horticulture has risen by 3.8 % per annum and production by 7.6 %  per  annum.  Cost  effective  novel  cane  node  technology  and  quality  tissue  culture seedling material in sugarcane, high density planting in cotton, quality seed production and microbial retting in jute, broad bed furrow planting technology in soybean, direct seeded rice and resource conservation technologies in wheat have been developed and demonstrated. Molecular markers for cultivar identification in cotton, rice, sorghum, pearl millet,  wheat,  maize, mungbean ,  and urdbean were  developed. The  genomes  of  two important  pulse  crops  of  India  viz.  chickpea  and  pigeonpea  and  cereal  crop  wheat  have been  successfully  decoded.  By  adopting  a  path  of  science-led  growth  of  its  agriculture, India  reaped  dividends  in  the  form  of  a  strong,  self-reliant  and  resilient  food  security situation. The spectacular achievements in the agricultural sector are attributable in large measure to technology-led improvements in agricultural productivity and investments in R &  D  in  agriculture  &  allied  sectors  and  effective  pursuit  of  improved  technologies  by farmers.  Several  pest  management  practices  involving  eco-friendly  biological  control methods  like  pheromones  and  release  of  parasites  and  predators  are  being  used  for pesticide free harvest by the farming community. Also cotton ginning sector is modernised through Technology Mission on Cotton (Mini Mission IV) and as a result, the country is able to produce cotton bales with a low trash content (less than 3 per cent trash).

For  delivering  the  benefits  of  research  to  the  farmers,  the  Indian  Council  of Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  established  a  network  of  645  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras (KVKs) in the country. Through this network the technologies/ products being evolved are demonstrated  by  organizing  various  extension  programmes  like  farmers  fair,  Krishi Mahotsav,  exhibitions,  exposure  visits,  animal  check-up  camps  and  diagnostic  and advisory services for soil, water and infected plant samples and also training of farmers to update  their  knowledge  and  skill.  These  programmes  have  also  benefited  the  farmers  in terms of increased crop production and improved farm income.

- (b) The  total  plan  outlay  of  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  was Rs.12023.00 crore during XI Five Year Plan, which was 0.56% of the plan outlay of the country. The same was raised to Rs.25553.00 crore in the XII Five Year Plan which was 0.70% of the total plan outlay of the country.
- (c) The  funds  are  allocated  sector  wise  and  not  on  state-wise.    The  details  of  funds allocated for Agricultural Research during last three years and spent are given below:

2013-14

: RE - 2600 crore     Expenditure : 2469.17 crore

2014-15

: RE - 2500 crore     Expenditure : 2268.57 crore

## 2015-16 : RE - 3000 crore     Expenditure : 2900.80 crore

## 2016-17 : BE - 3700 crore

(d) Various  novel  and  cutting  edge  science-based  research  programmes  are  being pursued besides up-scaling the already developed technologies for maximizing the returns in agriculture for overall development of the country. The research programmes are being prioritized  to  develop  new  high  yielding  pest  resistant  varieties  of  food  crops,  pulses, fodder  and  commercial  crop  varieties.  New  research  Institutes/  programs  have  basic, strategic and  applied  research related to  crop  improvement,  crop  production,  crop protection,  post-harvest  operations,  value  addition,  etc.  ICAR's  proposal  for  XII  plan envisions  a  scenario  of  judiciously  integrating  conventional  plant  breeding,  molecular biology, bioinformatics, genetic engineering, human resource and infrastructural development.

(e) ICAR seeks for  enhanced  allocations  to  the  extent  of  1%  of  agricultural  GDP  in forthcoming financial years so that agriculture research does not suffer due to paucity of funds.

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