Question : RESEARCH FOR HIGH YIELDING VARIETY SEEDS

(a) whether the Government has any scheme for the development of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds of various crops in the country;

(b) if so, the details of the HYV seeds developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) during the last one year;

(c) whether the HYV seeds including wheat and maize are being developed only in foreign countries;

(d) if so, the reasons for the inability of ICAR in developing HYV seeds in the country itself; and

(e) the steps being taken by the Government to check the contamination of transgenic seeds and also to push research activities towards improving the quality of seeds in the country to safeguard the interests of the farmers?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)

(a) Yes, Madam. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established crop-wise All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs), mostly situated in State Agricultural Universities (SAUs). Under this system varieties are developed and tested under different agro climatic conditions continuously for three years before releasing them for cultivation.

(b) During 2011-12, 60 high yielding varieties have been released by Central Varieties Release and State Varieties Release Committees in different crops.

(c) No, Madam.

(d) Does not arise.

(e) At National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), techniques are available to test transgenic seeds and could thus check contamination. Transgenic seeds are released on commercial scale following the regular guidelines of Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM)/Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), Government of India. ICAR also participates in the monitoring and need based assessment. ICAR is producing breeder seeds of all the improved varieties, as per the indent received from various seed producing agencies, to maintain quality and purity of seeds to get the better productivity by the farmers.