Lok Sabha Question No. 5161 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Research on Dryland Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Bhumare Sandipanrao Asaram, Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke, Dr. Shivaji Bandappa Kalge

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5161

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2026

## RESEARCH ON DRYLAND AGRICULTURE

5161.   DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE: SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM: SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:

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  establish  a  Mission  Office  of  the  Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) in the country particularly in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra with the objective of undertaking necessary and applied research on dryland agriculture to support distressed farmers and to facilitate the application of its outcomes in  the  Marathwada  region  along  with  the  details  thereof  particularly  with  respect  to  Latur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Ahilyanagar districts; and
- (b) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  with  regard  to  the  Indian  Grassland  and  Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI) for launching programmes focused on supporting distressed farmers in the Marathwada region along with the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): ICAR- Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) is working to support distressed farmers and to facilitate the application of research outcomes in the Marathwada region (including Latur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Ahilyanagar districts) ICAR- CRIDA is working extensively with an overall aim to conduct essential and strategic research on dryland

agriculture through All India Coordinated Research Project on Dry Land Agriculture (AICRPDA) and  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Project  on  Agro-Meteorology  (AICRPAM)  centres  and National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture - Technology demonstration component (NICRA-TDC):

(1).  AICRPDA  Parbhani  centre  located  in  Marathwada  region  is  working  for  evaluation  and establishment of region-specific crops and cropping systems; rainwater management; nutrient management; energy management; alternate land use management and Rainfed Integrated Farming Systems (RIFS).

(2). AICRPAM Parbhani centre located in Marathwada region is working in the area of resource characterization; establishing crop-weather-insect-pest relationship of major crops in Marathwada region, and dissemination of region based agro-met advisories.

(3).  Jalna,  Latur  and  Osmanabad  centres  of  NICRA-TDC  through  the  KVKs  situated  in  the Marathwada region are upscaling the climate resilient technologies in the region under four modules, i.e., natural resource management, crops and cropping system, livestock, village level institutions, capacity building etc. The major technologies which are being upscaled in the region are short duration and drought escaping soybean variety (MAUS-158); short duration pigeonpea variety (BDN-711) for the frequently drought prone regions; stress tolerant variety of safflower (PBNS-12)  for  receding  moisture  conditions;  stress  tolerant  rabi  sorghum  variety  (Parbhani Moti); Intercropping systems for stabilizing production and to minimize risk in drought proneregions  for  risk  minimization  in  frequently  drought  prone  regions  of  Maharashtra  to  assist struggling farmers.

Besides, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani and Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri located in the regions catering the requirement of research, capacity building  and  extension  through  KVKs  (Latur,  Chhatrapati  Sambhajinagar,  and  Ahilyanagar involved in technology evaluation, location specific recommendations including agro-advisories, and capacity building of farmers.

(b): ICAR-IGFRI  has  developed  Fodder  Resource  Development  Plan  for  Maharashtra including  Marathwada  Region  focused  on  aiding  farmers  in  distress.    This  Plan  helped  in reducing  the  gap  of  31.3%  shortage  of  dry  fodder  and  59.4%  shortage  of  green  fodder  in Maharashtra. To further add the forage availability, a policy was developed for Indian Rangeland and Grassland Conservation, Restoration and Sustenance, which helped in rejuvenating the grasslands of Maharashtra.

Further, Two Centres of All India Coordinated Research Project on Forage Crops and Utilization (AICRP-FC&U) supported from ICAR are already working at Pune and Rahuri, to generate and disseminate the technologies for whole of the Maharashtra including Marathwada region on fodder Crops in Rabi and Kharif season on Farmers' Field.

During the last  five  years,  more  than  50  varieties  in  different  fodder  crops  have  been developed  and  recommended  by  AICRP-FC&U  and  ICAR-IGFRI  for  the  cultivation  in  the different parts of Maharashtra. Detail of 40 most suitable varieties for Marathwada region is given in Annexure .

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## ANNEXURE

[Part (b) of Lok Sabha USQ No. 5161 dated 24 th  March, 2026]

## Fodder crop varieties/hybrids for Marathwada (Maharashtra) released during 2020-2025

|   S. No. | Crop                  | Variety                                                                                                                     |
|----------|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Fodder Oat            | OL-1964, HFO-1211, JO-05-30-4, OL-1869-1 and OL-1861                                                                        |
|        2 | Berseem               | JHB-20-1, JB-08-17, JB-07-15, BM 14, BM 12, JHB 18-1 and JHB 18-2                                                           |
|        3 | Fodder Pearl Millet   | ADV-175020, ADV-2285, ADV-2184, SBH-104, 16ADV0111, 16ADV0055, JPM-18-7, BAIF Bajra-5, BAIF Bajra-6 , TSFB-18-1 and ADV0061 |
|        4 | Fodder Maize          | FSB 2021-1, PJHM-1, FSM-2021-1, CMH 12-686 and KDFM-8                                                                       |
|        5 | Fodder Lathyrus       | BAUL-106, BCK-19-21A, JCL-22-1, JCL-21-1, JCL-21-3 and BL-5                                                                 |
|        6 | Bajra × Napier Hybrid | TSBN-15-15 and BNH-26                                                                                                       |
|        7 | Lucerne               | BAIF-Lucerne-5, LLC-6 and TNLC 15 (CO-4)                                                                                    |
|        8 | Dinanath Grass        | JHD-19-4                                                                                                                    |

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