(a) whether the Government is aware that several High Yielding Varieties (HYV) of major crops are prone to insects, pests and diseases;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is taking steps to encourage bio-fertilizers to control the insects and pests menace in the country; and
(d) if so, the response of the State Governments in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN )
(a): Yes, Madam. In due course of time after a variety is continuously grown over a large area, it may become prone/ susceptible to diseases/ pests.
(b): During the course of development and release of High Yielding Varieties (HYV) they are thoroughly evaluated against predominant pests/ diseases through All India Coordinated Crop Improvement Projects at different agro-ecological zones of the country. However, as a result of continuous selection pressure exerted by the resistant varieties of crops on pests, there is a possibility of resistance getting overcome as a natural phenomenon since pests and diseases being dynamic living beings respond to selection pressure by mutatating frequently and in the process overcome the resistance offered by some HYV crops. Consequently continuous breeding to develop resistant varieties is undertaken by the SAUs/ICAR Institutes.
Recently breakdown of resistance of BGII cotton against pink boll worm in Gujarat has been documented. Similarly there has been a report of compromise of resistance of Yellow rust resistance genes Yr9 and YrA in wheat against pathotype 46S119 of Puccinia striiformis in North India during last season.
(c) & (d): The Government is encouraging establishment of Bio-fertilizer/Bio-Pesticides units by providing 100% financial assistance to State Government upto a maximum limit of Rs 160.00 Lakh per unit and financial assistance to farmers/Individual/Private agencies @ 25% of total financial outlay or Rs. 40 lakh, whichever is less under Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) through National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
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