Question : DEVELOPMENT OF SEEDS

(a) whether the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has initiated any scheme for improving and developing seed varieties of various crops including pulses, cereals and oilseeds;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the achievement made under these schemes in terms of production and productivity;

(c) the financial allocations made by the Government during each of the last three years and the current year; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to popularize new varieties of seeds with high productivity and their distributions?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has undertaken basic and strategic research programmes for improving seed varieties of various crops and developing location specific improved technologies as per the agro-ecological needs.

The efforts of National Agricultural Research System (NARS) comprising of ICAR and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) have resulted in the release of 520 high yielding crop varieties/hybrids during the last five years (2010-2014) including 291 of cereals, 81 of oilseeds, 80 of pulses, 19 of forages, 29 of fibres and 20 of sugarcane that have fair degree of tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In addition, 4.53 lakh quintal breeder seeds of different crop varieties were also produced during five years (2009-10 to 2013-14).

(c) The allocation of Plan funds for improving seed varieties and developing location specific improved technologies during last three years and current year viz. 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 are Rs. 392.77 crores, Rs. 410.00 crores, Rs. 375.00 crores and Rs. 380.00 crores, respectively.

(d) Breeder seed of improved varieties as per the indent of Department of Agriculture and Co-operation are produced every year for multiplication of certified quality seeds for use by farmers. The new seed varieties and technologies so developed are popularized by the NARS through Front Line Demonstrations.