Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasizes the importance of connecting agricultural science with farming practices, launching 109 new crop varieties designed to withstand climate challenges.
In Short:
- 109 new crop varieties: Launched to improve yield and climate resilience.
- Engagement with Farmers: PM urges agricultural scientists to interact with farmers monthly.
- Focus on Adaptation: Highlighting the need for climate-adaptive strategies in Indian agriculture.
- "Lab to Land" Approach: Government's initiative to directly transfer scientific advancements to farming practices.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 109 high-yield, climate-resilient varieties of 65 different crops at the Pusa complex in Delhi, which serves as the government's premier agricultural research hub. This initiative is aimed at helping farmers tackle the challenges posed by climate change while boosting productivity.
At the launch event, PM Modi was joined by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other key officials. Together, they unveiled these new crop varieties across three different sites within the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) demonstration fields.
During his interaction with agricultural scientists, Modi stressed the importance of regular engagement between researchers and farmers. He suggested that scientists from ICAR, agricultural universities, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras should reach out to farmers every month to educate them on the latest crop varieties and agricultural technologies.
Modi also took the opportunity to converse with farmers, gathering their feedback and suggestions. He encouraged them to embrace technology for value addition and to diversify their crops. According to Modi, adopting high-yield and climate-tolerant crops will not only reduce farming costs but also enhance the nutritional value of the produce for consumers.
India, being one of the world's leading agricultural producers, faces significant climate challenges, including severe heatwaves and erratic monsoon patterns. These have affected the production of staple crops like wheat and pulses in recent years, leading to higher food prices. As highlighted in the government's Economic Survey 2023-24, India is highly vulnerable to climate change, making it crucial to implement adaptive strategies in agriculture.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan pointed out that the government is focusing on a "lab to land" approach, aiming to ensure that scientific research directly benefits farmers. The newly released crop varieties are expected to reach farmers’ fields within three years.
The varieties introduced include climate-resilient rice that can survive flooding, heat-tolerant wheat, high-calcium finger millet, and superior mango varieties, among others. These varieties cover 34 field crops and 27 horticultural traits, reflecting the extensive research conducted by ICAR to continually improve crop productivity.
Former ICAR scientist VK Singh noted that while India's agricultural production is high, its productivity per hectare remains low. He emphasized the need for ongoing research to improve yields, given the limitations on expanding agricultural land.