Question : Research on Grain Legumes

(a) whether the Government has any proposal to set up a Food Legumes Research Platform (FLRP) in several States including Madhya Pradesh with the help of the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA);

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the benefits/advantages likely to be derived out of the proposed FLRP and the financial process thereunder;

(c) whether there has been any collaboration or agreement signed between Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to work together on crop improvement and agronomy programmes for grain/legumes and dry land cereals and if so, the details thereof including crops identified for research and the extent to which the small farmers are likely to be benefited therefrom; and

(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a) Cabinet has approved establishment of Food Legumes Research Platform (FLRP) at Amlaha, Sehore, Madhya Pradesh with the Satellite Hubs in West Bengal (for Pulses) and Rajasthan (for Natural Resource Management) by International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) on 15th February, 2017.

(b) The establishment of FLRP will enable India to harness the best of International technology in meeting some of the emerging food security challenges particularly in pulses. Investment will be made by ICARDA for development of research and farm facilities including manpower.

(c) Yes, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Collaborative Work-Plan has been signed on 15.03.2017. Seven ICAR-ICRISAT collaborative research projects have been finalized for crop improvement and agronomy research. Accordingly, chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, pearl millet, finger millet and sorghum have been focussed for research. Since all these six targeted crops are mostly grown under rainfed conditions by small farmers, the research achievements will help in increasing yields of these crops and in turn enhance income of small farmers.

(d) Crop based ICAR Institutes and State Agricultural Universities working under National Agricultural Research System(NARS) are working with these two institutes to develop new varieties and validation of technologies.


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