(a) whether the high yielding foodgrains particularly wheat developed during the green revolution for a specific temperature and climatic profile are no longer effective for increasing the production in country under changed conditions; and
(b) if so, the steps taken/being taken to develop new strains of foodgrains for increasing foodgrain production under the new conditions?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTILAL BHURIA)
(a) & (b): The High yielding varieties developed during green revolution period since the beginning of mid 60s have greatly helped in enhancing the food grain production. India`s success in achieving self-reliance for food emanates from Green Revolution which began with the identification and introgression of dwarfing genes into traditional wheat and rice cultivars and development of hybrids of maize, sorghum and pearl millet. The adoption of these varieties and hybrids on a large scale enhanced the production of food-grains and made the country self-sufficient in food production. However, continuous growing of these hybrids and varieties make them vulnerable to emerging pests and diseases. Therefore, these were phased out, and replaced with superior varieties and hybrids with greater inbuilt resistances to major biotic and abiotic stresses and with better grain qualities as well as consumer acceptance.
In case of wheat, the earlier varieties developed during green revolution such as Sonalika and Kalyan Sona etc. were replaced by improved varieties such as HD 2329, HD 2285 etc. These varieties were further phased out with still better varieties such as PWB 343 which presently occupies large area in North Western and North Eastern Plane Zone. Presently, this variety has been found susceptible to a new yellow rust race 78S84. To replace this variety, already a new wheat variety DBW-17 has been developed.
Thus, the development of new varieties to suit the changing environments and emerging new pathotypes is continuously taken up for sustaining the production of food crops including wheat for food security of the country.