Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today unveiled 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified crop varieties at the India Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi.
During the event, the Prime Minister engaged with farmers and scientists, highlighting the significance of these newly developed crop varieties. He stressed the critical role of value addition in agriculture. Farmers in attendance acknowledged that these new varieties would significantly reduce their costs while benefiting the environment.
The Prime Minister also discussed the rising importance of millets and the growing trend towards nutritious diets. The farmers praised the government’s initiatives in promoting natural farming.
Shri Modi proposed that Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) should actively disseminate information to farmers about the benefits of new crop varieties developed each month to enhance awareness.
The 109 crop varieties released by the Prime Minister spanned 61 crops, including 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops. The field crops comprised various cereals, including millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, fiber crops, and others. The horticultural crops included different varieties of fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, tuber crops, spices, flowers, and medicinal plants.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan later addressed the media, highlighting the significance of the day for farmers. He noted that the release of these 109 crop varieties would enable farmers to boost production, increase earnings, and reduce expenses. Shri Chouhan also emphasized that these climate-friendly crops can yield abundant harvests even under adverse weather conditions and are rich in nutrition. He termed today’s event as a prime example of the lab-to-land program.
Responding to media queries, Shri Chouhan mentioned that within three years, farmers will have access to seeds from all 109 varieties. He added that there is no longer a need to import exotic mango varieties, as the new indigenous variety is more productive, visually appealing, and has better storage qualities, all of which could enhance farmers’ income. He also pointed out that these varieties are suitable for natural farming, with ongoing research in this area.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi suggested that experts from KVK, ICAR, and state agricultural universities engage with farmers on one day each month to address current agricultural challenges and find solutions through collaborative learning.
The event was also graced by Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary and Shri Ram Nath Thakur, along with Dr. Himanshu Pathak, DG ICAR & Secretary, DARE. Thirty farmers from neighboring states and all ICAR DDGs and officials were also in attendance.
