Indian Council of Agricultural Analysis is engaged on plans to develop 100 new seed varieties and an equal variety of farm applied sciences inside a 100-day timeframe to bolster India’s agricultural sector, a senior agriculture ministry official mentioned on Monday.
The initiative, a part of the federal government’s 100-day motion plan, primarily focuses on climate-resilient and biofortified seed varieties, moreover farm applied sciences.
ICAR Director Basic Himanshu Pathak, talking to reporters on the sidelines of the institute’s 96th Basis and Expertise Day celebrations, mentioned, “We’re actively engaged on two key motion plans: ‘100 new seed varieties in 100 days’ and ‘100 applied sciences in 100 days”.
Pathak indicated that ICAR is looking for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s time to unveil these improvements, possible in mid-September when the 100-day interval concludes.
With its workforce of 5,521 scientists nationwide, ICAR is growing new seed varieties throughout numerous crops, together with rice, wheat, and horticulture.
The applied sciences below growth span water administration, mechanisation, and plant safety.
Addressing the problem of poor penetration of ICAR’s high-yield seed varieties on the farm degree, Pathak revealed the institution of ‘seed hubs’ at ICAR establishments and Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
“This yr, we’re prioritising seed hubs for high-yielding oilseeds and pulses varieties,” he said.
The plan consists of increasing oilseeds hubs to 174 districts and creating mannequin village hubs for pulse seeds in 130 districts.
As a part of the continuing celebrations, ICAR is showcasing 40 progressive applied sciences developed in 2023.
Pathak introduced plans to signal 10 MoUs for commercialising these improvements, with round 100 business gamers collaborating within the occasion.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is about to inaugurate the two-day celebrations marking ICAR’s 96th Basis Day on July 16.ICAR, initially established because the Imperial Council of Agricultural Analysis, has been on the forefront of agricultural analysis since its inception on July 16, 1929.In the long run, ICAR has outlined a five-year technique, mapping out scientists engaged on new merchandise and applied sciences.
Progress is being monitored at each institutional and headquarters ranges, making certain a sustained deal with agricultural innovation and growth.
