The government aims to cover nearly 25 percent of the kharif rice area with climate-resilient seeds this year, building on the success of such seeds and this year’s bumper wheat harvest, a senior government official said.
In the recently concluded rabi sowing season, nearly 75 per cent of the total wheat area was under climate-resistant varieties, Himanshu Pathak, Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), said today.
As a result, total wheat production in the 2024-25 marketing year is estimated at a record of almost 113 million tonnes.
Pathak was addressing reporters at a press conference to mark the 96th foundation anniversary of the country’s premier agricultural research institute.
Climate-resilient rice seed varieties can withstand drought, prolonged lodging and submergence, Pathak said.
Last year, about 16 percent of the total kharif rice area was cultivated with climate-resistant varieties.
India, the world’s largest rice producer after China, grows rice on over 41 million hectares during the kharif season.
Studies show that climate change could reduce rice yields in India by 3-5 percent under a medium emissions scenario, and up to 31.3 percent by 2030 under high emissions.
India’s estimated rice production for the 2023-24 crop year (July-June) is 136.7 million tonnes.
The largest rice producing states are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
ICAR is also working on a plan to develop 100 new seed varieties and as many agricultural technologies within a span of 100 days to strengthen the Indian agriculture sector.
The initiative, which is part of the government’s 100-day action plan, focuses on climate-resilient and bio-fortified seed varieties in addition to agricultural technologies.
“We are actively working on two major action plans: ‘100 new seed varieties in 100 days’ and ‘100 technologies in 100 days’,” said ICAR DG Pathak.
He indicated that ICAR is requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to unveil these innovations, likely by mid-September when the 100-day period ends.
With a staff of 5,521 scientists across the country, ICAR develops new seed varieties for various crops including rice, wheat and horticulture. Technologies being developed include water management, mechanization and plant protection.
ICAR also plans to expand its oilseed centre programme to 174 districts this year and create model village centres for pulse seeds in 130 districts.
First print: Jul 15, 2024 | 7:50 PM IST