THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 253 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27/08/2013
REGARDING “RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATIONâ€
(a) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research made following budget allocation for research and
development activities in agriculture and allied sectors, including agricultural education, in the
last three years:
Year Amount (Rs. in crores)
2010-11 2521.76
2011-12 2850.00
2012-13 2520.00
As agriculture is a State subject, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) provides partial
financial support to Agricultural Universities under the scheme ‘Strengthening & Development of Higher
Agricultural Education in India’ and assists their research and education programmes. Out of the total
allocation given above, the financial support provided to the State Agricultural Universities, Deemed-
to-be-Universities and Central Universities having faculty of agriculture and allied sciences during the
last three years is given below:
Year Amount (Rs. in crore)
2010-11 446.00
2011-12 536.89 (including special grant of Rs.50.00 crores to Kerala Veterinary & Animal Science University)
2012-13 413.50 + 120.00
Allocation in 2012-13, based on Budget announcement.
The financial support provided to the Central Agricultural University, Imphal through Department
of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) in the last three years is as under:
Year Amount (Rs. in crore)
2010-11 80.00
2011-12 100.01
2012-13 84.99
(b) The financial assistance is provided to the State Agricultural Universities, Deemed-to-be-
Universities and Central Universities having faculty of agriculture and allied sciences.
(c) The Agricultural Universities have rendered a great service to the nation in the field of
Higher Agricultural Education, Research & Extension. Their contribution to the agricultural growth
in India is note-worthy. State Agriculture Universities in liaison with ICAR have developed several
location specific varieties, cost effective technologies (suiting soil and climate) like crop
diversification, resource conservation technologies (zero tillage, bed planting, laser leveling,
Systems of Rice Intensification), soil reclamation/amelioration measures, integrated soil-water-
nutrient management, water harvesting and conservation, participatory watershed models, micro
irrigation and integrated farming system. Their focus has also been on floriculture, improved farm
mechanization and post-harvest technologies and agro-forestry models, improved technology for
marine, inland and ornamental fishes to boost agricultural production and productivity in the
country. All these have contributed towards achieving food grain production to the extent of
over 259 million tonnes during 2011-12.
(d) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has established 634 Krishi Vigyan Kendras
(KVKs) in the country under the administrative control of different host organizations including
431 under State/Central Agricultural Universities, 51 under ICAR Institutes, 99 under NGOs, 35
under State Governments and remaining 18 under other educational institutions/Other Organizations.
The activities and programmes of KVKs include testing and demonstration of agriculture
technologies in farmers’ field, training of farmers and extension personnel and creation of
awareness on improved technology through various extension programme. Besides, the KVKs produce
seeds and planting materials for its availability to farmers.
