PM releases 109 high-yielding varieties of crops

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi released 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient and biofortified varieties of crops at the India Agricultural Research Institute, here today.

The 109 high-yielding varieties of 61 crops included 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops. Among the field crops, seeds of various cereals including millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, fibre and other potential crops were released. Among the horticultural crops, different varieties of fruits, vegetable crops, plantation crops, tuber crops, spices, flowers and medicinal crops were released.

Modi also interacted with the farmers and scientists on the occasion. Discussing the importance of these new crop varieties, the Prime Minister stressed on the significance of value addition in agriculture. 

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan said this will help farmers produce more, earn more money and spend less.  He said that the seeds of these crops are climate-friendly and can yield good crops even in adverse weather. He also informed me that these varieties are rich in nutrition.

He declared that within three years, farmers will receive seeds from all 109 varieties. Additionally, he said that imports of exotic mango varieties were not currently necessary “because our variety is more productive, more aesthetically pleasing, and has superior keeping qualities, all of which can increase farmers’ income. All of these types are appropriate for natural farming, and research on this topic is ongoing”.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi suggested that Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) should proactively inform farmers about the benefits of the new varieties being developed every month to enhance awareness about their benefits. On one day each month, Prime Minister Modi proposed that experts from KVK, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and state agricultural universities engage with farmers. The goal of this exchange should be to tackle a current issue related to agriculture and attempt to identify answers through mutual learning, he said.

– global bihari bureau