Prime Minister released 109 high-yielding crop varieties
Context
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified crop varieties at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi. This initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity, promote sustainable farming practices, and support the growing demand for nutritious and organic foods in India.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Government policies and interventions)
Key Highlights
- Release of New Crop Varieties: 109 varieties of 61 crops were released, including 34 field crops (cereals, millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, fibre, and other potential crops) and 27 horticultural crops (fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, tuber crops, spices, flowers, and medicinal crops).
- Prime Minister’s Interaction: PM Modi interacted with farmers and scientists, emphasizing the importance of value addition in agriculture and the significance of millets and natural farming.
- Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): The farmers praised KVKs for raising awareness about sustainable agricultural practices. The Prime Minister encouraged KVKs to regularly inform farmers about the benefits of new crop varieties.
- Scientist’s Efforts: Scientists shared that the development of these varieties aligns with the Prime Minister’s directive to bring underutilized crops into the agricultural mainstream.
Significance
- Enhanced Agricultural Productivity: The introduction of high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties will likely boost agricultural output, reduce farming costs, and improve food security.
- Promotion of Nutritious and Organic Foods: The focus on biofortified crops and natural farming aligns with the growing demand for nutritious and organic foods, contributing to better public health and environmental sustainability.
- Support for Farmers: The new varieties are expected to help farmers reduce expenses, increase profitability, and adapt to changing climate conditions, thus supporting their livelihoods.
- Sustainable Agriculture: The emphasis on value addition, climate resilience, and biofortification reflects a broader strategy to promote sustainable agricultural practices in India, ensuring long-term food security and environmental conservation.
