(a) the measures taken by the Government to protect and promote the traditional agricultural produce in the country;
(b) whether the Government proposes to encourage research work to improve the existing local varieties of agricultural produce and seeds; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken in this direction?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a): In order to protect and promote the traditional/organic agriculture production methods and its produce in the country, the Government of India is implementing Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER),Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS), and National Food Security Mission (NFSM).
(b)& (c): Yes Sir. Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) is currently conserving more than 4.52 Lakh accessions of various crops including 0.92 Lakh of indigenous/traditional ones.
ICAR-NBPGR & Bioversity International are jointly executing United Nation’s project called Mainstreaming Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization of the Agriculture Sector to ensure Ecosystem Services and reduce vulnerability. One of the main aims of which is to make communities in seven states (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam) and the Union Territory of Ladakh more resilient to climate variation and encouraging them to grow a greater number of varieties of different crops through protection and promotion of traditional varieties.
For improving, the access to traditional seeds twenty-three community seed banks were established at community level involving Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Self Help Groups (SGHs) in remote and tribal areas of the country.
Furthermore, in United Nations Environment Programme-Global Environment Facility (UNEP-GEF) project, ICAR-NBPGR, Bioversity International and other institutes are also executing Seeds for Needs project to look for the best set of traditional varieties of wheat and rice across states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, U.P & M.P.
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