New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi released 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified crop varieties at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi today. During the event, he interacted with farmers and scientists, emphasising the importance of these new crop varieties and the significance of value addition in agriculture. Farmers highlighted that these varieties will help reduce their expenses and positively impact the environment.
Prime Minister Modi discussed the increasing importance of millets and the shift towards nutritious foods. Farmers expressed their appreciation for the government’s efforts to promote natural farming. Modi suggested that Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) should proactively inform farmers about the benefits of newly developed crop varieties each month to enhance awareness.
The 109 climate-resilient crop varieties of 61 crops released included 34 fields and 27 horticultural crops. Among the field crops were seeds of various cereals, including millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, fibre, and other potential crops. The horticultural crops included various fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, tuber crops, spices, flowers and medicinal plants.
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Later, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the media, emphasising the significance of this event for farmers. He highlighted that these crop varieties will enable farmers to produce more, earn more, and spend less. Chouhan mentioned that these climate-friendly seeds can yield good crops even in adverse weather conditions and are rich in nutrition. He referred to the programme as a prime example of the lab-to-land initiative.
Responding to media inquiries, Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that within three years, farmers would receive seeds from all 109 varieties. He also said that imports of exotic mango varieties are unnecessary since domestic varieties are more productive, visually appealing, and have superior shelf-life, which can boost farmers’ income. All these varieties are suitable for natural farming, and research in this area is ongoing.
Prime Minister Modi proposed that experts from KVKs, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and state agricultural universities engage with farmers monthly to address current agricultural issues and find solutions through mutual learning.
Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary and Ram Nath Thakur, along with DG, ICAR & Secretary DARE, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, were also present at the event, along with 30 farmers from nearby states and other ICAR officials.
