(a) whether it is a fact that various agricultural research institutes working in the public sector have found/developed new seeds which have higher production rate of foodgrains;
(b) if so, the names of these seeds and the time by which the research thereon was completed by the said institutions along with the production rate of these seeds; and
(c) the quantum of these seeds made available for the farmers till December 2017?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) The Crop Science Division of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, through its 21 Research Institutes, 03 Bureaux, 02 National Research Centres, 02 Project Directorates, 22 All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) and 10 Network Research Projects, and with active collaboration with State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) is engaged in the development of improved crop varieties/ hybrids, cost-effective production and environment-friendly crop protection technologies to enhance crop productivity and ensure food and nutritional security in the country. The Institutes are located in different parts of the country and developing the area specific technologies. The AICRPs, which are coordinated and funded (75%) by ICAR are located in SAUs, also have the mandate of developing trait-specific high yielding crop varieties and hybrids, suitable to specific areas/agro-climatic zones. As a result of these efforts, since 1969 till January 2018, 4723 improved field crop varieties have been developed which include 2415 of cereals, 797 of oil seeds, 891 of pulses, 154 of forage crops, 333 of fiber crops, 100 of sugarcane and 33 of potential crops. Among these, highest number of varieties have been released in rice (1021), followed by wheat (395) and maize (330). Of these varieties, 1169 varieties are under seed chain (2016-17) and these are contributing immensely towards high production leading to national food security. The improved varieties have led to many fold increase in production rate (yield) of wheat and rice viz., from 668 kg/ha and 663 kg/ha in 1950-51 to 2404 kg/ha and 3093 kg/ha, respectively in 2015-16.
(b) From May 2014 to December, 2017, 645 varieties of different field crops comprising of 349 of cereals (Rice-165, Wheat- 48, Barley-9, Maize-65, Millets-62); 98 of oilseeds (Rapeseed mustard- 28, Soybean-16 Groundnut-15 Linseed-13 Sesame-6 Niger-5 Sunflower-8 Safflower-2 Castor-5); 89 of pulses (Mungbean-18, Urdbean-6, Chickpea-23, Lentil-11, Pigeonpea-8, Cowpea-7, Fieldpea-9, Rajmash-1, Horsegram-5, Fababean-1, Clusterbean-1 Mothbean-1); 73 of commercial crops (Cotton-37, Jute-7, Mesta-2, Kenef-3, Roselle-2, Sunhemp-1, Ramie-1, Sugarcane-20); 36 of forage crops (Pearl millet-4, Forage sorghum-4, Cowpea-4, Guinea grass-3, Oat-11, Rice bean-3, Lucerne-2, Napier x Bajra hybrid-1, Marvel Grass- 2, Grain Amranthus-1, Forage Sewan grass-1) have been developed by National Agricultural Research System (NARS) through AICRPs. These varieties have been developed for different agro-climatic conditions and sowing situations. Crop wise production rate (yield) ranges of different varieties are as follows: Rice (20.0-85.0 q/ha), wheat (18.0-63.0 q/ha), Barley (18.0-52.0 q/ha), Maize (32.0-117.0 q/ha), Millets (10.0-55.0 q/ha), Oilseeds (11.0-40.0 q/ha) and Pulses (6.5-28.0 q/ha).
(c) Majority of these varieties have been put in seed chain. Breeder seed production of the varieties released during 2014-17 is as under:-
2015-16: 5777.82 q
2016-17: 7381.23 q
2017 (Kharif): 3979.66 q
The breeder seed is further used for production of foundation and certified seeds for commercial cultivation by the farmers.
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