(a) whether some new varieties of wheat have been developed by Indian Agriculture Scientists;
(b) if so, whether the feasibility of the new varieties of wheat have been tested;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken to make available these new developed varieties of wheat to the farmers?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTILAL BHURIA)
(a) New wheat varieties are developed each year by ICAR institutes as well as State
Agricultural Universities under the All India Coordinated Wheat and Barley Improvement Project,
involving 30 funded and many voluntary centres. So far, more than 330 varieties suitable for
different agro-climatic ecologies have been evolved. During the last three years, 11 new
varieties namely DBW 16, HD 2888, HI 1531, NIAW 917, PBW 533, AKDW 2997-16 , DDK 1025, DBW 17,
K 0307, GW 366 and RAJ 4083 have been released for different agro ecologies.
(b) & (c): New varieties are tested using frontline demonstrations under actual farm
situations. Agronomical trials have established feasibility of improved varieties.
(d) The ICAR provides breeder seed of these new varieties as per indent received from
different seed producing agencies including private seed sector through the Deptt. of Agriculture
and Cooperation. Several State Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes also provide small
quantities of seed of new wheat varieties to the farmers for popularization. These new
varieties are also demonstrated at farmers fields under Frontline Demonstrations(FLDs). The
seed produced from FLDs are also made available to the farmers.